Ernest Lee Chudalla

Ernest Lee Chudalla went peacefully to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the SPJST Nursing and Rehab Center in Needville. He born March 1, 1930 to Paul and Emily Krueger Chudalla in Burr, Texas. Attend Lawson School in Burr and graduated from Boling High School. Ernest proudly served his country in the United States Army. On December 19, 1954 he married the love of the life Juanita Elizabeth Hix from Nashville, Tennessee at the First United Methodist Church in Wharton, Texas.  They raised their two children Debbie and Hal on the Family Farm in Burr, Texas. He was employed by Texasgulf Sulphur Company in Newgulf, Texas until his retirement in 1990.  Along with working at Texasgulf, he and Juanita owned and operated a Montgomery Ward Catalog Store with a TV and Refrigeration Repair Shop.  He farmed and raised cattle up until his retirement.  After that he and Juanita traveled in their RV all around the United States and Canada.  They enjoyed staying Eagle Nest, New Mexico in the summers.  They were members of the Rice Belt Good Sam’s RV Group that traveled to many RV Parks.  With this club they played hours upon hours of dominoes and cards, along with this came many wonderful and lifelong friends. Ernest was very active with the First United Methodist Church.  He spent many an hour mowing yards and fixing things along with praising the Lord for all of his wonderful blessings. His Greatest Blessings and Pride of his life were his five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.  There was not a school program, dance recital, sporting event or livestock show that he did not attend. He loved his Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.  He would attend games or watch them on TV and believed in them to the very last play. Ernest will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was united in heaven with his father and mother along with his sister Aileen Chudalla Hopkins. Ernest leaves behind his loving and caring wife Juanita of 63 years of marriage.  His children Debbie and Carl Hinze and Hal and Donna Chudalla.  His grandchildren Travis Hinze and Katie, Scott and Phyllis Hinze, Renee Hinze, Sarah and Josh Shaffer, and Dustin and Miranda Chudalla along with great grandchildren Lanie, Tatum, Hunter, Heath, Hayes, Ty, Caden, Hailey, Jackson, and Kaylie. The family would like to thank the staff at SPJST Nursing and Rehab along with Houston Hospice for the great care given to Ernest during his courageous battle with Parkinson’s and Cancer.  And a very Special Thank you to Lynn Butler and Irene Campos for the extra care and phone calls given to the family during this time. Pallbearers:  Hal Chudalla, Dustin Chudalla, Sarah and Josh Shaffer, Travis Hinze, Scott Hinze, Renee Hinze, and Jerry Labay Honorary Pallbearers:  Rice Belt Good Sam’s RV Club, 88 Dominoes Club, co-workers of Texasgulf, and Charles Krueger, Memorials can be made to Houston Hospice or St Jude’s. Funeral Services officiated by Rev. Dan Fritch and Rev. Kelly Krone. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 8 pm at the Wharton Funeral Home and Funeral Services will be at the First United Methodist Church at 2 pm on Friday.  Interment to follow at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Services are under direction of the Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com