Thomas Eugene Fanning Sr

Born in Dallas in 1934, Tom graduated from Sunset High School as an honor student and president of the Student Council. He went on to the University of Texas in Austin and married his high school sweetheart, Anne. He obtained a BS degree in geology, and served as a member of Sigma Gamma Epsilon honorary society and president of the honorary Arnold Air Society. He was called to a three-year tour of active duty in the United States Air Force where he served as an instructor navigator in The Strategic Air Command.

Tom was employed by Marathon Oil Company with a career spanning 38 years. After several relocations, he and Anne resided in Houston during the last 20 years of his career. He advanced through various professional and managerial assignments, serving first as Vice President of North American Exploration and later as International Exploration Vice President. He was a graduate of the Program for Management at the Harvard School of Business.

Tom was active in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and served as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the American Geological Institute. For many years he was an Honorary Lifetime member of the Jackson School of Geosciences Advisory Council. He served a term as Chairman and subsequently chaired the Nominating Committee for over a decade. He also created an endowed Scholarship for Geosciences Honors Undergraduates.

Tom and Anne retired in Austin where they created a beautiful home in The Hills for entertaining grandchildren in the summer. They also enjoyed golf, UT football and fine arts events. Tom cultivated many lifelong friendships over the years who shared his love of traveling, tennis, sailing, sport shooting and fly fishing. He was an active member of his church and a lifelong Episcopalian. As a boy he served as an acolyte. He later served as a Sunday school teacher for kids and participated in a number of bible study and men’s groups.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Anne, and his grandson Hunter Fanning. He is survived by his two children and spouses, Cynthia and Jim Seeba of Milton, Georgia and Tom and Rhonda Fanning of Houston, Texas, grandchildren Ainsley, Drew and Meredith McKay, Gary Seeba, Max and Katie Fanning, and Grace Fanning, and great grandson Ford Hunter Fanning.

We will all miss his great wit, sage guidance, and his easy laughter. The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to his dear friend Lucy Adcock and family, and his wonderful friends and staff at the Village at the Triangle. We ask that any gifts in Tom’s name go to the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 3201 Windsor Rd, Austin, Texas 78703.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.