Roll Call Tribute

Thomas Glen "Tom" Gunter 

March 24, 1947 - October 11, 2024 

Thomas “Tom” Glen Gunter, age 77, of Austin, Texas, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2024 surrounded by his loved ones. Born on March 24, 1947, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Tom was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a cherished friend to many.

Tom grew up in Dallas, Texas, and went on to attend Texas A&M University in College Station. He would let anyone who asked know that he attended to study engineering thinking he would become a steam train engineer - a passion of his from his childhood and through adulthood. He graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree and went to work for Motorola Semiconductors for 30 years. During Tom’s career, he became known as the “Father of the M68000 Embedded Microprocessor”. This microprocessor would become one of the most instrumental processors developed during the dawn of the personal computing age - featured on the cover of National Geographic for its significance to the industry and to the launch of the Apple Macintosh in 1984. By the end of his career, Tom had achieved 11 U.S. Patents related to microprocessor functionality. Tom’s contributions to this amazing era of technology will be remembered forever.

Tom was revered, loved, and respected by his “kids” at Motorola. For those who worked with him and for him, they saw him as a compassionate mentor and valued friend. Many of those went on to become his closest, lifelong friends. His compassion, sincerity, and genuine desire to know his peers and friends showed up in both his work and his personal life.

Like at work, Tom was known for his love of his friends and family. For those who knew Tom, they could count on him to take a keen interest in their lives and always extend his joyous spirit, wisdom, and humor.

Tom is predeceased by his parents, his brother William David Gunter, his daughter-inlove April Allen Gunter, and his daughter, Tamara Anne Gunter, who adored and cherished him as much as he did her.

He is survived by his loving wife and his best friend, Donna Gunter. His son Thomas and his wife Morgan, his step-daughter Shannon, who Tom considered his own daughter, and her partner Kody, and his beautiful grandchildren, Thomas A, Ava, and Forrest.

Tom’s family would like to thank all of our family and friends for their unwavering support during this difficult time. A celebration of life will be announced in the near future. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Gold Ribbon Rescue, Austin (https://grr-tx.com/donate/) or Friends of the Southern Pacific Steam Engine #786 (SP786) (https://www.austinsteamtrain.org/donate-786-fund/), for the restoration of Southern Pacific steam locomotives to honor Tom’s memory.

Thomas Glen Gunter will be remembered for his love, generosity, and the countless lives he touched during his time with us.