Marvin Barta Obituary

Marvin Lee Barta, 89, of Gonzales, died Monday, June 23, 2025, in the home he built. He was born at home October 1, 1935, to Adolph Joseph and Petronilla Volf Barta on the Barta farm south of Gonzales, Texas. His mother was assisted by a country doctor.
Marvin grew up learning the skills of his farming and ranching family. He particularly liked roping and branding cattle. His first year of school was at the one-room Watson Gin Community School. The Gonzales schools were then consolidated. During high school, he was a member of the mighty Apache football team which went on to Bi-District playoffs. The game was played in Cameron, Texas. The city of Gonzales chartered a train, taking the Apache Band, Pep Squad and many excited fans to the game. Marvin graduated from Gonzales High School in 1954.
In the fall of 1954, Marvin enrolled at the public research university in Kingsville, then called Texas College of Arts and Industries (Texas A&I), which offered a dual degree in petroleum engineering and natural gas engineering. Oil and gas-related industries were exploding. He began working on what became his lifelong career. In 1959, Marvin received a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Gas Engineering from Texas A&I, now Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
In 1958, Marvin married Lillian Ann Van Beveren, the love of his life, in the old St. James Catholic Church. They returned to Kingsville, where both continued their educations. Rewarded for his dedication and hard work, Marvin was inducted into Sigma Tau, a prestigious engineering society.
Upon graduation from A&I, Marvin accepted the position of Senior Research Engineer at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, Texas. He studied the dynamic characteristics of gas compression equipment as they affect safety, performance and economics. He later became a senior project engineer for the Southern Gas Association's Analog Computation Laboratory at SwRI. While at SwRI, Marvin did graduate work in electrical engineering at St. Mary's University in San Antonio.
In 1967, Marvin was offered the position of Manager and Chief Engineer in compression and oil and gas production systems at C/B Southern in Houston, a division of Cooper-Bessemer Company. His engineering designs were soon being used in compression equipment and pipelines worldwide.
Marvin was asked to present a paper at the International Gas Union Conference held in Moscow, Russia, in 1971. The Soviet Union was beginning to open to the world during the presidency of Richard Nixon. Marvin, with his family and other Conference attendees from the United States had an interesting trip exploring Moscow, the Czars' palaces in St. Petersburg, seeing the northern lights and shopping the dollar store.
Marvin later became Manager of the Consulting Engineering Division for Creole Production Services in Houston, successfully continuing there through 1973. Consulting was an area where he excelled. He began consulting privately as a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas. His consulting services became part of the existing Mar-L-Bar Corporation, which also served the cow/calf operation and other ranch holdings.
As his client numbers grew, it became obvious that staff, more engineers and specialized digital programs were needed. A new corporation named MLB Engineers, Inc., was chartered in 1996, with the core of this corporation being specialized engineering analyses and designs of compression/pump systems. Marvin was at the helm of this service company until his retirement in 2020. The company continues under the able leadership of his sons, Tim and Scott.
During his many years of engineering and consulting, Marvin was always a problem-solver. Many of his designs are unique and some are trademarked. His designs are found in oil and gas compression installations in every continent except Antarctica. In 2018, Marvin was recognized by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers for his outstanding service and honored with a special certificate of commendation.
Marvin grew up deer hunting and took his boys on trips, teaching them the rules of gun safety and respect for the environment. Marvin loved the outdoors and being with his family. They headed west almost every summer to camp, hike and fish. Later, as grandchildren began to arrive, he delighted in taking them on Jeep rides, and weekend mornings would find them checking cattle and observing wildlife. To their delight, Marvin often let the grandkids drive the Jeep on pasture roads.
His life story would not be complete without mentioning the "Strip," a unique motor vehicle built using a stripped-down 1934 Ford. It was Marvin's project in high school shop class, and it ended up being used constantly on the homestead. When Marvin's mother had her famous Sunday dinners, the many grandchildren enjoyed fun rides on it.
Marvin, a man of great faith, was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Gonzales. He was also a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, Texas Bexar Chapter, and the National Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Marvin and his beloved Lillian enjoyed sixty-six years of marriage working side-by-side, raising their children, traveling the world, working their land and nurturing their engineering business. It was a blessed life well lived.
Marvin died peacefully at home. At his side, as always, was his wife, Lillian, as well as his sons Tim and Scott. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Jeffery Blane Barta; his brothers Adolph J. (Sonny) Barta, Jr. and Robert Gene (Bobby) Barta; brothers-in-law W. Wayne Spahn and Robert L. Maddox as well as sisters-in-law Esta Lee Michelson Barta and Wanda Louise Barber Barta.
Survivors include his wife, Lillian Ann Barta; sons Timothy Lee and wife Catherine Anne; Scott Alan and wife Jane Ellen; sister, Loretta Ann Spahn; sister-in-law Beatrice Elvera Maddox; grandchildren Lauren Elizabeth Castaneda and husband Christopher; Caroline Blane Barta Montgomery and husband Andrew; Brett Alan Barta, Braden Lee Barta, and step-grandchildren Christopher, John and Megan Janak. Great-grandchildren include Theodore Allen Castaneda, Charles Blane Castaneda, James Laith Montgomery and Bennett Andrew Montgomery-and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank Marvin's loving caregivers, Dian a, Ashley, Veronica and Cyndi, who made his last weeks comfortable and safe at home.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 pm Tuesday in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home with prayers of the Holy Rosary following at 7 pm. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. James Church, officiated by friend and long-time Pastor, Rev. Paul Raas, at 10 am, July 2, 2025. Interment will follow in St. James Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers include Rex Spahn, Lorne Barta, Rodney Barta, Matt Spahn, Max Barta and Joel Molnoskey. Honorary pallbearers include Brett Barta, Braden Barta, Christopher Castaneda, Andrew Montgomery, Ralph Raabe and Patrick Tuch.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the St. James Catholic Church Cemetery Fund at 317 College Street, Gonzales, Texas, 78629.
Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com.
Services under the care and direction of Seydler Hill Funeral Home, Gonzales, Texas.
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