Harold Dean Thomlinson

Harold Dean Thomlinson was a kind and helpful gentle man who will be missed by family and friends. He was born August 4, 1936 and passed from this life on June 21, 2024. He was a devoted Rangers fan who greatly enjoyed their 2023 World Series win!

Harold was born in Missouri and lived in some small towns around Springfield and then moved to Springfield where he lived until 1963. That year he married Sandy Whipple, a young lady he met at work. He was a paper boy when he was young, delivering the Springfield News and Leader morning and evening. While he was in school at Southwest Missouri State College he worked at a now-obsolete job – throwing “misses” – papers that the regular paper boy missed. Sandy was the switchboard operator who took calls from customers who did not receive their paper.

After they married, they moved to Arlington Texas with all their belongings in Harold’s 59 Chevy Impala. Harold had a math degree and great confidence that he would quickly get a job. His first job was as a clerk at Dallas County. He was not there long when they got computers at that office – a whole room full. They recruited Harold to be a programmer and sent him to school. So, he was one of the first Cobol programmers. Eventually he was hired by Bell Helicopter and was a systems analyst there until he retired. He was often wakened from a deep sleep in the middle of the night by a call, and would quickly jump into problem solving mode to keep the computers running.

Harold played baseball in high school and was a very good shortstop. His senior year a scout came to his high school and he told Harold he would have recruited him but he was too small! When he moved to Texas, he began to play softball and even traveled some with a team playing games all over Texas. He also enjoyed playing basketball for First Presbyterian Church. After he gave up those sports, he began to be serious about golf and played often with friends.

One hobby for Harold was woodworking. His prize creation is a large box to store and display Sandy’s many quilts.

First Presbyterian Church was fortunate to have Harold’s help in many ways. He was an elder, helped with the heavy work of the Bazarrnival and other maintenance jobs around the church, taught first/second grade Sunday School with Sandy for a while, was a sponsor for youth group trips, including ski trips. Harold was always ready to lend a hand when needed.

Harold was a loving husband and father and a special grandfather to his five grandchildren. He was a quiet play mate for the kids even when they were little and he never understood what they were saying.

Harold is survived by his wife, Sandy, son Kurt (Heather), daughter Deana Mastin (Jon), grandchildren – Abby Mastin Sanford (Garrett), Tate Thomlinson (Sarah), Foster Mastin, Rachel Thomlinson, and Garrett Mastin, and his sister Jean Pearson.

The staff at Moore Funeral Home encourages family and friends to express their fond memories, expressions of sympathy and additional condolences to the family of Harold Dean Thomlinson, by visiting www.moore-funeralhome.com.

In addition, If you or someone you know wish to send a floral condolence to the Thomlinson family in honor of the late Harold Dean Thomlinson, you may choose to do so by calling In Bloom Flowers and Gifts at (972)-256-6637

A memorial service for Harold will be held Monday, June 24, 2024 at 10:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church, 1200 South Collins Street, Arlington, Texas 76010.