Austin, Texas - Earl Eugene Niles, beloved father, grandfather, teacher, and dreamer, passed away on June 6, 2025, at the age of 78. He was born on February 20, 1947, in Weatherford, Oklahoma to Earl Campbell Niles and Zola Faye Niles. Gene was the proud eldest of five brothers. His youngest brother, Gerald "Gerry" Lynn Niles predeceased him. His surviving brothers and dear sisters-in-law are: Stephen "Steve" Dale & Kendall Niles, Clark Allen & Lori Niles, and Bruce Lee & Jan Niles. Gene loved attending the annual Niles family reunions with his parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, & cousins, and those close family ties were the foundation of his humility, perseverance, and quiet strength.

Earl graduated from W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he played football, was voted "Most Handsome" by his senior class, and developed a passion for scuba-diving, swimming, and the ocean. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served proudly as a submariner and electrician on nuclear submarines. Upon completing his service, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Data Processing from Texas A&I University.

In 1968, Earl married the love of his life and embarked on a 57 year marriage with, Judith "Judy" C. Nall Niles. He also gained two more brothers, Carl Than Nall Jr. and Randall "Randy" Nall, with whom he fondly spent every Christmas and many a happy meal full of jokes and laughter. Their first child, Natalie Nicole Niles Argüello, whom he called "Nicky," was born in October of 1971. Soon, they moved to a rocky piece of the Texas hillcountry, affectionately called "The Hilltop," and through tireless effort and vision, they turned that raw land into a home that the family enjoys to this day. Gene's career began in San Antonio at the San Antonio Water Board and later at Trinity University as a computer programmer developing some of the first business and large mainframe computer systems. And in what was the first of many community projects, Earl founded and became a charter member of the Castle Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

The family then spent two decades in Houston, where Earl joined PDVSA Oil and Gas as an executive. Once again, he and Judy found themselves building community by being charter members of First Colony Church of Christ, where Gene served as deacon. Their second child, Nathaniel "Than" Nall Niles, was born in March of 1989. Subsequent chapters in Gene's career took him back to San Antonio, where he contributed his talents at Oracle, Harcourt Brace, and the Psychological Corporation. Later in life, Earl embraced a new calling as a high school computer science teacher for 13 years at John Jay High School Science and Engineering Academy, sharing his love of technology with a new generation. He retired in May 2020, having spent his life in service to his country, his community, his students, and most of all, his family.

Earl was a man of many talents: a skilled carpenter, who built the gazebo his daughter was married under; a master of home renovations; and a lifelong tinkerer, who always had a project in progress. He had a deep love for the outdoors, bike rides, kayaking, and camping, and an even deeper love for science fiction and cinema. He treasured time spent watching movies with his kids and capturing home movies and photographs of the moments that mattered most to him.

He was a man of vision and quiet compassion, a devoted father to Nicky and Than and their partners, Alex Argüello and Karlyn Cotlow, and a proud, active grandfather to Jaqueline "Jaxie" and Natalia "Lexi" Niles Argüello. He found great joy in traveling with his family and encouraging his children and grandchildren to see the world, even when times were tough. No matter the sacrifice, he and Judy made sure their kids had opportunities to experience life to the fullest.

Earl was deeply spiritual, loving, kind, and unwaveringly strong. His presence brought comfort, his humor brought light, and he treated all who were lucky enough to know him with grace. He will be missed beyond measure but never forgotten. We love and miss you very much, Gene, Honey, Daddy, Pops, Papaw, the Greek.

The family offers a special thanks to the doctors, nurses, sitters, and staff at the VA and UT Dell Seton for their care in the last years and months of his life.

A memorial service will be held on September 13, 2025, at 2:00 pm, with a reception to follow, at Hyde Park Presbyterian Church, 3913 Avenue B, Austin, TX 78751.