Earl Ervin

MANSFIELD -- Earl Hozy Ervin, 83, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. Service: 2 p.m. Thursday at Blessing Funeral Home, Mansfield. Interment: Mansfield Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Blessing Funeral Home. Earl was born Jan. 7, 1926, to Elmer Ervin and Mattie Sprinkle Ervin. Earl, who was known as Hozy to all his hometown friends, and his four brothers grew up on the family farm in Mansfield. He left school at the age of 17 and joined the Army. During World War II, he fought bravely in the European theater as a soldier in the 89th Infantry, marching across France, Belgium and Germany, concluding his tour of duty in Austria. He crossed the Rhine River in a wooden boat, helped liberate Ohrdruf concentration camp and served for a time under Gen. George S. Patton. Following the war, Earl joined the Texas National Guard where he achieved the rank of captain, retiring in 1976. In addition to serving in the Guard, Earl was a civil servant for 36 years in several government branches, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He loved carpentry and built the house on Hamil Street in Mansfield that his family lived in for many years. The family wishes to extend a special thank-you to all of the wonderful professionals at Fort Worth's John Peter Smith Hospital for all of their care and consideration to the family during a very difficult time. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers; one daughter, Linda Susan Simmons; and son, Richard Michael Ervin. Survivors: Wife of 62 years, Dora Lee Ervin; daughter, Connie Givens of Dallas; son-in-law, Wayne Simmons of Mansfield; daughter-in-law, Margaret Ervin of Arkansas; grandchildren, Wendy Miller, Jason Simmons, Rebecca Montgomery, Natalie Givens and Christa Ervin; great-grandchildren, Caleb Simmons, Ashley Miller, John Montgomery and Amelia Montgomery; and many nephews and cousins. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Earl Ervin please visit our Sympathy Store.