DONALD J. TIMKO
1929-2021
Donald J. Timko was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on the 9th of May 1929 and passed away on Thursday, the 9th of September 2021. He was 92 years of age.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; and nieces, Merrianne and Melanie.
Don loved music and in his youth played trumpet in the high school band, becoming Pittsburgh’s Outstanding Music Student of the Year, with many more honors to follow in his distinguished life.
At Don’s University of Pittsburgh graduation ceremony, he held his geology diploma in one hand and a draft notice in the other. He spent the next eight years in the Air Force, serving in Korea where he attained the rank of Captain. He then returned to Pittsburgh where he earned his Master’s Degree. He put his degrees to work by joining an Oklahoma oil and gas company, but after five years, he moved to Houston and was with Conoco for nine years. With two partners, he then formed an oil and gas consulting firm.
Don had 50 years of experience in the petroleum industry. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, he was employed by Conoco as a Research and Reservoir
Petroleum Engineer. Some of his initial responsibilities involved drilling and evaluating wells in Conoco’s extensive operations in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Prior to leaving Conoco in 1973, he was promoted as the head of Conoco’s Formation Evaluations Operations on a worldwide basis.
Over the years he was successfully associated as co-owner of two domestic production companies, which discovered and developed considerable oil and gas reserves along the Mid and Upper Gulf Coast of Texas.
Mr. Timko had been a member of the faculty of the University of Houston, teaching graduate level courses in Hydrocarbon Formation Evaluation. Over the years, he taught similar course in USA, Canada, South America and Europe.
He was selected as a “Distinguished Lecturer” for the Society of Petroleum Engineers of A.I.M.E. The lectures, given worldwide, emphasized techniques to define the commerciality of oil and gas reservoirs in high pressure / high temperature deep geological environments. He has published many technical papers on this subject over the years in the Oil and Gas Journal.
Don loved to share his knowledge, often teaching employees of producing oil well companies internationally, as well as at the University of Houston. He proudly served as President of numerous oil and gas technical societies, including The Society of Professional Log Analysts, which he cofounded.
An avid duplicate bridge player, Don and Phyllis could often be found competing at the local bridge clubs or at tournaments around the country. Don also served as President of the ACBL’s Houston Unit 16, consisting of 2500 members.
Over the years, he and Phyllis took many fun and exciting trips to France, Australia, England, Scotland and San Miguel de Allende, to name a few.
Don had many great friends who enjoyed his great sense of humor and his zest for adventure. He will be sorely missed.
Don’s family invites friends to share memories of Don over refreshments during a reception to be held from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 13th of September, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
Please visit Don’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.