Ernest Joseph Fivel

Ernest Joseph Fivel, III, "Ernie" to family and friends, passed away suddenly on Sunday, September 11, 2022 at the age of 71. He was born March 14, 1951 to Ernest J. Fivel, Jr. and Margaret Lillian Fivel in Camp Pendleton, CA, where his father was stationed with the US Marine Corps.
Not long after his birth, his father retired from the Marine Corps and purchased a ranch in the San Joaquin Valley in Central California. There, Ernie graduated from Reedley High School in 1969 and shortly thereafter followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Marines. Ernie was very patriotic so unfortunately a medical discharge shortened his stint.
Following his discharge he engaged in real estate sales around California, as well as moving into sales and marketing of a wide variety of industries, including vending machine product sales.
While on a trip to Texas to visit his father's family in the Houston/Galveston area, he met Deborah Harberson. Theirs was a bar room romance that survived 30 years, up until Ernie's passing. They met in a bar and married in the same bar in Houston in 1992. In 1994 they moved to California with his son Derek to help his mother, Margaret, until she passed. They moved to Oceanside, California to be close to family. Then in 2007, they moved to Austin, Texas to be near Ernie's son Derek and his family. Some years later they moved to Kyle following Ernie's retirement. In retirement he loved to cook, including Beer Can Chicken, as well as manning a pit for some good Texas BBQ. He and Debbie rode Harleys, first in the hills of California, then in the Texas Hill Country.
Left to cherish Ernie's memory are his wife of 30 year, Deborah Harberson Fivel, son Derek Scott Fivel and his wife Djemma and their daughter Brooklyn Margot Fivel. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Beth D'Allesio and Bonnie Lee Willey, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
He was so excited to be a Grandpa that he paced the floor and stayed up all night with his son waiting for the birth of Brooklyn. You could see the happiness in his face the first time he held her in his arms.
Ernie was a very loyal and intelligent with a great sense of humor. He will be greatly missed.