EB Price Jr.

He was born in Granbury, Texas on January 23, 1937, to Ernest Blanton Price, Sr. and Alice Merrill Price. E.B. was the youngest of 7 children and was the only male child. As a boy, E.B. spent virtually all of his time roaming the Brazos River bottom swimming, hunting, fishing, and camping. He developed a love of the great outdoors that he carried with him his entire life.

E.B. was also a skilled athlete, playing football, basketball, and track & field. In 1955, his senior year, the Granbury mile relay team won the State track meet in Austin, and the team set a state record at that time in their victory. After graduation, EB accepted a track scholarship to attend Tarleton State Teachers College, where in 1957 he won the pole-vaulting event at the Lone Star Conference Track meet and was named the all-conference champion pole vaulter for that year.

E.B. next attended Sam Houston State University, where he was a charter member of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity and was also a member of the ROTC. He graduated in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science.

While stationed at Fort Hood in early 1963, E.B. was introduced to the love of his life, Billie Lou Bryson of Bertram. It was a blind date, and, after a whirlwind courtship of roughly 3 months, the couple were married on March 31st, 1963. William was born in December that same year. In November of 1965, E.B. was deployed to Korea. He served as Company commander of 2nd battalion of the First Calvary Division. Upon his return, E. B. decided that while he had enjoyed his military service, he did not wish be separated from his family in such a manner ever again. They weren’t. When Billie Lou passed away last September, the couple had been married for 62 years.

E.B. always felt strongly about giving back to his community and helping others in need. During his lifetime, EB was a member of the Burnet school board, founding member of the Burnet Gun club, and Elections Chair for Bertram voting precinct. In 1976, he was elected as a board member of the Pedernales Electrical cooperative for the Bertram area and held this position for 30 years. He served as a Deacon in the Joppa Baptist Church for many years and was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Lampasas when he passed away.

His hobbies generally involved anything that could be done outside. He was an excellent marksman, both in archery and all classes of firearms. He also played tennis, golf, and spent time coaching William’s pee wee football team (to a championship of course) and also was an assistant coach to grandson Will Gregg’s pee wee team.

However, perhaps his greatest passion was hunting. He hunted all species of game virtually his entire life, starting along the Brazos River bottoms, then on the family ranch, and also numerous other places in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. The family has taken some degree of comfort in the fact that he passed away on September 1st, the historical opening day of dove season, one of his favorite days. His physical and mental limitations were not going to allow him to hunt this year in this life, and we believe he decided it was simply time to enter another realm where he could hunt with all his old friends, his bird dogs, and be reunited with Billie Lou, all of whom he missed so deeply.

He is survived by his two children, William (Bill) Price and wife Jena of Lampasas, and Alice Price and husband Jeff Charlton of Bertram. Along with five grandchildren, Bryson Price of Austin, Celie Price of Denton, Avery Charlton of Horseshoe Bay, and Parker Gregg and Will Gregg who both reside in San Marcos, along with numerous nieces and nephews across the United States.

The family would like to thank New Century Hospice and numerous caregivers that helped so much during the past year. Special thanks to Sandra Reyes, and Rhonda Roe who were so loving and kind during his final passage.

In Remembrance, donations may be made to the Friends of Joppa Community Inc.