Carroll "C.A" Adair Quarles Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Sonja Quarles, his children and their spouses: Jennifer Quarles and Matthew Moore, John and Keira Quarles; and his grandchildren, Ella and Faith Quarles. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carroll and Marguerite Quarles, Sr.

Born in Abilene and raised in Fort Worth, C.A. earned his Bachelor of Arts from Texas Christian University (TCU) in 1960 on a valedictorian scholarship. He went on to earn his Ph.D in Physics in 1964 from Princeton University. Afterwards, he worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and then returned to Fort Worth in 1967 as an Assistant Professor at his alma mater, TCU. Shortly after returning to Fort Worth, he met Sonja. They were married in 1971 in Saint Andrew Catholic Church.

Throughout the decades that followed, he and Sonja raised Jennifer and John in a loving home just blocks away from TCU. C.A. rose to full professor, served as chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and was later honored with the title of Cecil and Ida Green Distinguished Emeritus Tutor. During his over fifty-year tenure at TCU, he published research spanning subatomic and nuclear physics. At its core, his research was about understanding what matter is made of and how it behaves — using radiation and subatomic particles as tools to reveal what the naked eye could never see.

C.A.’s commitment to education extended well beyond the university classroom. He devoted several summers to working with elementary, middle, and high school teachers, helping them deepen their understanding of the sciences so they could bring it more confidently and joyfully to their own students.

C.A.’s curiosity and commitment to learning continued long after retirement. He loved learning new languages and practiced daily. He began learning to play the ukulele. He and Sonja discovered the joy of birding — watching from their patio and traveling together to Hawaii, Alaska, South Texas, Ohio, California, and the Bahamas to see birds and attend birding conventions. He loved learning about birds, but most of all, he loved the time spent birding with Sonja.

C.A. cherished time with his family above all else. When asked about his most important accomplishment, it wasn’t his research or serving as department chair. It was being Grandpa. After retirement, C.A. and Sonja moved to San Antonio to be closer to their grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family and all who had an opportunity to know him.

A memorial service will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, 11093 Bandera Rd, in San Antonio, on August 1st at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to the Dr. C.A. Quarles Undergraduate Scholarship in Physics and Astronomy through the TCU Davis College of Science and Engineering or to the charity of your choice.