Ernest Earl Coston

In Hamilton County on March 20, 1938, Ernest Earl Coston was born to Ida and Ernest Coston. He was the youngest of four children his older siblings were Charlie, Chess, and Mary Nell. He began courting Iva Ellen White in the school hallway of Evant High when he swooped in asking her to be his date that evening for trick-or-treating before his friend who had been courting her could ask. Iva told the boys whichever one of them arrived there first would be her date. Earl beat the friend that evening and won the date with Iva. She said after that evening she was always with Earl. While he was taking Iva home from school he had the first of many flat tires before he got her home. Iva said there wasn't a date in the first 6-months that Earl's car didn't get a flat. She remembers later that same day at the homecoming dance he spilled purple punch down the front of her white evening dress. He graduated from Evant High School in1956 then moved to Dallas for a job with the Highway department. One year later during Iva's graduation he left early rushing to help fight a house fire that ignited a life long passion. He told Iva, "I know what I want to do in life now. I want to be a fireman." He was hired with the Dallas Fire Department March 1, 1958, retiring after 32-years as a Captain. He passed the passion for fighting fires and helping others down to his two sons Rodney and Dale, his grandson Bryce, and his nephew Danny who followed in his footsteps to become firefighters. Earl was able to fight a fire with his son Dale when the two were cast as firefighters on the big screen in the movie "Dallas The Early Years." The father son duo can be spotted fighting an oil field fire, and later driving in a fire truck. Iva and Earl were married July 22, 1960. They purchased their first home in October 1961. The new homeowners moved in on a Sunday and two days later they became new parents when their first child Rodney was born on All Hallows Eve. Two years later they were blessed with a second son Dale, then two years later Earl's sweetheart Rhonda was born. They moved to their Duncanville home where they raised their children and developed many lifelong friendships. Earl and Iva moved to Midlothian after 42-years in Duncanville. Earl became a grandfather in 1988 when his grandson Bryce was born, one year later his only granddaughter Audra was born, and a decade later he became Creed's Papa. When Earl's health began to decline one of his greatest hopes was that he would live long enough to meet his great grandbaby. Earl became a great-grandfather November 21, 2015 when beautiful Baby Allie Ray was born to Bryce and his wife Casey. Earl loved his children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews dearly. He enjoyed spending time with them whether it be hunting, taking them for a ride around the lawn on the riding lawn mower, or teaching them the tricks-of-the-trade of junking. Earl passed away on August 5, 2016, just after he and Iva celebrated 56-years of marriage. She smiled, "A very happy Fifty-six-years. A lot of ups and downs, but we had a wonderful fifty-six-years." Earl took his last breath while family surrounded him. When his brother Chess exited the bedroom he embraced Earl's niece Michele and said, "He was the best brother." Michele responded, "I believe it because he was the best uncle." Chess smiled, "He was the best everything." Instead of flowers, the family has requested donations to: Heather's Old Skool Village; 6018 Graham Street, Lake Worth, Texas 76135, 817-236-8275. Which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit providing a place for young adults with cognitive disabilities to find purpose, serve the community and socialize with friends.