Carl Girvin Harkins

Carl Girvin Harkins, Sr., of Abilene, TX, passed away on June 25, 2025. He was 86. Girvin lived a life of scholarship, teaching, service, and deep love of family.

Girvin was born in Colorado City, TX, to Carl Gracey and Victoria Marie (Girvin) Harkins on June 14, 1939. He graduated from Colorado High School at 16, and McMurry University cum laude with the first double major in physics and chemistry from that institution. He completed a PhD in physical chemistry at Johns Hopkins University and two post-doctoral fellowships at UC Berkeley/Stanford University and Rice University. He was a Rhodes Scholar nominee.

His interests, training, and life-long education were multi-disciplinary, enabling him to sustain a professional career in both academia and industry. He joined the faculty at the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies (now University of Texas, Dallas), where he later became director of the High Field Magnet Lab. In 1968, he returned to Rice as a professor to manage an interdepartmental research program in the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Departments sponsored by NASA. In 1972, he was tasked with developing a PhD program in Corrosion Science and Engineering. He guided graduate and postdoctoral students through this program.

One of these students was directly responsible for recruiting Girvin to Hewlett Packard Labs in Palo Alto, CA, in 1978. In this new role, Girvin led a research program for developing various facets of next-generation HP computers, including corrosion-resistant, high-density drives and chip mounting technology. His accomplishments led to numerous patents and established fundamentals that are still seminal in computer construction and use today. During this time, he developed collaborations with theoretical and solid-state chemists at Oxford University. This led to his appointment as an Industrial Fellow, and he spent several summers at Oxford working with colleagues and mentoring students. The friendships he developed there endured well past retirement.

Girvin met the love of his life, Elizabeth Ann Stone, at McMurry and they were married on September 7, 1960. Theirs was a 65-year dedicated partnership of love and support in their professional and personal lives and the raising of their three children. His love for his family was obvious to all. Ann was beside Girvin every step of the way as disease weakened him and finally took him from us.

From cradle to grave, Girvin was an active member of the United Methodist Church. For many years he taught adult and young adult Sunday school and special-topic classes, and he served as lay delegate to the Southwest Annual Conference in 2009-2011. He was also humbled and honored to serve for 12 years on the McMurry University Board of Trustees. He was a Trustee Emeritus and McMurry University Distinguished Alumnus, and he received the Cross and Flame Award.

Girvin's numerous interests included scouting, especially hiking and camping. An Eagle Scout himself, he devoted much of his time to the Boy Scouts as a Scout Master, mentoring younger and older scouts and guiding his own sons through the ranks of cub scout to Eagle Scout, the Order of the Arrow, Wood Badge, Explorer Silver Award, and God and Country award. He participated in the Girl Scouts as well, accompanying his daughter on father-daughter canoe trips and other activities. His love of being in God's creation also showed in his passion for scuba diving. He was a certified dive master and his underwater photography includes amazing pictures taken in waters from the Bahamas to the Red Sea.

Girvin was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson, Danny Harkins. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ann; brother, Gary (Becky) Harkins; children, Carl (Eileen) Harkins, Paul (Beth) Harkins, Kim (Brad) Loos; grandchildren, Eleanor (Lucas) Cochran, Gregory Harkins, Richard Harkins, Constance Harkins, Lindsey (Dustin) Hicks, Haley Loos; and great-granddaughter, Annabel Gilmore.

Following a graveside service for family members, a celebration of Girvin's life will be held on July 3, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, with Rev. Dr. Russell Miller officiating. The family extends their sincere thanks to the caring staff at Hendrick Hospice Care and The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Girvin Harkins and his commitment to education may be made to The W. Norton Jones, Jr. Professorship at McMurry University or to St. Paul United Methodist Church.