A true Austin original, Ernest “Ernie” Leslie Spradling passed away on July 18, 2019. Ernie was the youngest child born to parents James and Jo Spradling on June 18, 1943. He graduated from Austin High School in 1961.
Ernie went on to work for the State of Texas for 37 years at the Texas Education Agency and the Department of Transportation. In the summer of 1965 he met the love of his life, Loretta Ann Huebel, when his cousin set him up on a blind date. Loretta and Ernie were an inseparable match from that day on and shared over 51 years of happy marriage together.
Ernie and Loretta married at Faith Lutheran Church on December 16, 1967. Three years later they welcomed their first son, Bryan, followed by son Kevin in 1975.
Ernie was a social, active man and loving father, brother, uncle and grandfather. He enjoyed time with his family more than anything but also loved to fish, camp and travel. He was lucky at life, and especially at any game he played and at the slot machines. Ernie’s family and friends will forever remember him as a selfless, loving and loyal person; he was always the life of the party, laughing and joking and making everyone smile.
Ernie is preceded in death by his parents, James and Jo Spradling. He is survived by his wife Loretta, sons Bryan and Kevin, daughters-in-laws Laura and Jennifer, grand-daughters Kristin and Kate Spradling, his brother James Spradling, sister-in-law Pat Spradling, and sister Louise Spradling and numerous cousins and nephews and nieces.
A funeral is scheduled Sunday, July 21, 2019 at Faith Lutheran Church at 3:00 PM.
