Ernesto "Ernie" Guadalupe Chapa, 88, of Wichita Falls, passed away on Monday, December 6, 2021.

The family will receive friends at a visitation from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 10 ^th at Lunn's. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 11 ^th at Lunn's Chapel with Deacon David Bindel officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home.

Son of the late Trinidad (Martinez) and Guadalupe Chapa, Ernie was born on October 26, 1933, in Brownsville, Texas.  He worked for Braniff Airline for 25 years, and spent the majority of his time managing the Joint Airlines Military Traffic Office at Sheppard Air Force Base.  He then became a travel agent for Global Travel and later Red Carpet Travel.  He finally retired from McBride's Land & Cattle where he was everyone's favorite host.  After his retirement he could be found at one of his three grocery stores making sure he was done with his shopping in time to make it to Sam's when they opened at 10:00 so he could be first in line for all the "try its" at the end of each aisle.  He loved to travel, and traveled the world with his kids in tow, making lots of wonderful memories along the way.  His family was his favorite pastime, and he loved doing things for them and with them.  Papa Chapa never missed a game and coached the soccer team even though he didn't know how to play.  He was the best "Chief Shiny Top" to his "Princess Big Brown Eyes" in Indian Princesses and went camping with his son in Boy Scouts even though he wasn't a huge fan of the outdoors.  He would go wading with us while we swam despite his fear of the "undertow" at Lake Kickapoo.  He was and always will be the best husband and father ever.

Along with his parents, Ernie was also preceded in death by his brother Jose Humberto and sister-in-law Marisela Farias Chapa.

He is survived by his loving wife of almost 54 years, Kay Chapa; his son Phillip Chapa and wife Jenna, his daughter Christina Chapa and spouse Keith Williams; and grandchildren Daren Lunsford, Kobie Lunsford, Sydney Chapa, Ashton Guess, Victoria Chapa, Sarenna Guess, Rylan Chapa, Charli Williams, and great-granddaughter Chloe Rose.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310.