Ernest Ochoa

With sadness, love, and profound gratitude, the family of Ernest Ochoa, announces his passing on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 9, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Graveside services will be private. Ernest, 89, of Waco, was born in Downsville, Texas, on June 28, 1931, to Willie and Consuelo Ochoa. With his parents being sharecroppers, he, along with his 5 brothers and 2 sisters, would help his parents pick cotton and various other crops, when they were growing up. After high school, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955. He worked as an electrician on the B36, stationed at Fort Biggs, in El Paso, Texas. After leaving the Air Force, he went to go work with his brothers, Bill and Charlie, at the Ochoa Company. Ernest eventually took the Ochoa Company over and ran it successfully for many years. In 1953, he married Esther Perez and they were happily married for almost 52 years. He loved to spend time with all his family and enjoyed having big family barbecues at the lake, or his home. He would have horseshoe tournaments, drive his grandkids around on his riding lawnmower with a red wagon attached to it, and even grew big gardens for his family to enjoy. You could always catch him eating his favorite fruit, fresh watermelon, with a little salt, at any of our get togethers. At the family Christmas reunions, he would even dress up like Santa sometimes, and hand out bags of fruit and candy to all the kids. He welcomed all friends anyone brought with them, and he treated everyone like family. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and taught both of his boys to develop a love for it as well. In June of 2011, he married Nebolena Beltran. They had many adventures and traveled to many fun locations together. She is a wonderful and caring wife and took great care of him all the way up to his passing. There are so many wonderful things to say about this great man. Plain and simple, he was an all-around amazing person. He had the best sense of humor. He could put a smile on your face, and he could make you laugh until you cried! He will be missed tremendously. He was preceded in death by parents, Willie and Consuelo Ochoa; wife, Esther Ochoa; brothers, Bill, Sam, Charlie, and Johnny Ochoa; and sister, Lilly Chavez. Ernest is survived by his wife, Nebbie Ochoa; children, Debbie Lanier and husband, Roger, of China Spring, Texas, Cynthia Mayfield and husband, Jim, of China Spring, Jackie Rodriguez and husband, Ruben, of Aubrey, Texas, Liz Bernal of McGregor, Texas, Vangie Sanders and husband, James, of Ruston, Louisiana, Ernest Ochoa, Jr., of Waco, and Eric Ochoa and wife, Tonya, of Waco; brother, Cecil Ochoa; sister, Sandy Gonzales and husband, Ted; 25 grandchildren, and 32 great- grandchildren. Honorary Pallbearers are grandsons, Eric Ochoa, Jr., Luke Ochoa, Evan Ochoa, Timothy Sanders, Jacob Bernal, and Ronnie Sherbahn; brother, Cecil Ochoa; and sister, Sandy Gonzales. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.