This month we are introducing John and Diane Tomlinson. John and Diane live on the east side of Ella Lee and have been residents of Village West since 1995. They both grew up in the Memorial area and although they did not go to the same high school, they knew of each other and had mutual friends. John asked Diane for a date and then another. She accepted and courtship continued. She and John have been married for over forty years. They started married life in Missouri City, but both wanted to live in Houston, so they found a home to lease in Walnut Bend. The move to Village West was not planned.
Diane tells us she only learned of Village West after dropping off a friend of her daughter’s after school. Diane had no idea that the offer to drop off a young girl at her home would result in finding a home for her own family. The place they now call home was quite different back then. It was not maintained, and the yard was in desperate need of some TLC. Diane was able to overlook the neglected and unsightly landscape and convinced John and the kids to look at it. The owners at that time were not interested in selling so the Tomlinsons decided to lease it. Fortunately, after a few years the then owners were ready to sell and Diane and John did not miss the opportunity to purchase it. They have put in time and attention to their home and Diane is an admitted, “home body”.
Diane recalls that while the family was moving in, a neighbor welcomed them and informed them that Christmas decorating was a requirement of all residents on their block. The Tomlinsons were certainly up for the challenge. Diane reminds us of how small our world can be sometimes because when the family moved to VW Diane learned that a coworker of her then employer lived just two streets down. They loved Village West from the beginning and have formed lifelong friendships with some of their neighbors. Diane and John have much in common with neighbors…kids, grandkids, and pets. Diane and John have two beautiful daughters and seven awesome grandchildren. Although COVID has changed the way we all do things, the Tomlinsons spend family time together at the Tomlinson River House located on the San Bernard River. Diane tells us that although she and John work, they try and find time to meet up with friends, do a little fishing (mainly John), but she emphasized that, “life now revolves around the grandkids.
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John has worked at Coastal Tank and Testing, LLC (previously at the acquired company CTT Petroleum Services) for over 35 years. The company installs, inspects, and removes underground storage tanks and is also involved in the construction of new gas stations. John enjoys fishing and hunting and has numerous trophies to prove his skill. Diane has always worked in an administrative support role. She is and has been an Executive Assistant for the past 5 years to two of the business unit Presidents for Air Liquide. Some changes due to COVID have been positive, as Diane now works from home. Diane loves to read and prefers reading about historical events and is fascinated with topic of espionage and who done it type of books. She is a self- admitted animal advocate. She has always had pets and is the owner of 
Ellie, a beautiful biscuit colored Samoyed. John found Ellie seven years ago at an esplanade on Westheimer and quickly picked her up. It seems Ellie’s original family, from Austin, could not keep her. Although Ellie was to have been adopted shortly after John brought her home, the adoption fell through and Diane took it as a sign that she was meant to be part of their family. Ellie reminds most folks of a fluffy bear and she is very friendly and loves to be hugged. A recent new addition to the Tomlinson home is Bella, a lucky stray cat that has found a loving home. Bella is getting acclimated to her new home, but she realizes that Ellie is the alpha pet.
Diane and John love Village West and plan on being part of our community for many more years to come. Diane walks Ellie every morning and evening, so the next time you see them say hello and consider giving Elle a hug. Be warned, you will likely fall in love with Ellie the first time you meet her; Everyone does.
