Bart Childs

Dr. Bart Childs, 87, passed away on December 31, 2025, in Bryan, Texas. A lifelong educator and pioneer in computer science, Bart dedicated his life to teaching and advancing knowledge with unwavering passion and commitment.

Born on January 3, 1938, in Magnolia, Arkansas, Bart was raised in a family that deeply valued education. His parents, Orval and Floy (Turrentine) Childs, were both teachers who instilled in him a love for learning and a dedication to nurturing students—values that would shape the course of his life.

Bart began his academic journey at Southern Arkansas University, where his father taught. After two years there, he transferred to Oklahoma State University to complete his undergraduate degree. He continued at OSU to earn both his Master's and Ph.D. degrees. While completing his doctoral studies and teaching simultaneously, Bart was approached by the University of Houston with an exciting opportunity: to help launch a new department focused on Computer Science and Engineering. He accepted the challenge and began what would become a distinguished career in higher education.

While at the University of Houston, Bart was introduced to Shirley Marshall through close friends. Their connection blossomed quickly, and they married soon after. A year into their marriage, Bart accepted a position at the University of Louisville. It was during their time in Kentucky that they adopted their only child—a daughter.

In 1974, Bart returned to Texas to join the faculty at Texas A&M - Texarkana. Three years later, he transitioned to Texas A&M University's main campus in College Station, where he remained until his retirement in May 2007. Over those three decades, he influenced countless students with his deep knowledge and genuine care for their growth.

Bart's career extended far beyond the classroom. He took sabbaticals in Australia that enriched both his personal and professional life. He taught engineers from NASA and consulted at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico—experiences that reflected both his expertise and versatility as an educator and researcher.

A significant part of Bart's professional legacy was his involvement with the TeX users group—a community centered around the TeX programming language used for typesetting technical documents. His participation led him to conferences around the world, including one memorable trip to Montreal where he was joined by his family.

Bart is remembered not only for his academic contributions but also for the warmth he brought into every aspect of life. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Shirley (Marshall) Childs; his parents Orval and Floy Childs; brothers Allen Childs, Ves Childs, and Mac Childs; and cherished mother-in-law Agnes (Jurek) Marshall.

He is survived by his devoted daughter Meredith Childs and grandson Logan Childs—both educators who carry forward his legacy of curiosity, kindness, and resilience.

May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him and inspiration to all who continue the work he so passionately pursued.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 24, 2026, from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM at PARC at Traditions - Independent Living 3095 Club Drive, Bryan, Texas. Bring your stories!!!

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Hospice, or to the Computer Science and Engineering Excellence Fund, providing opportunities for those who need a little extra help becoming Excellent.

https://engineering.tamu.edu/cse/giving/index.html