Ernest C. Felts III, 81, of Farmers Branch, Texas, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed peacefully on March 10, 2011, at UT Southwestern University Hospital – St. Paul, with his family by his side.

He was born August 7, 1929, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was the oldest of 4 siblings: Jane Basden, Pat Turner, Kay Sorrell, and Sally Kee.

Ernest is survived by his wife of 59 year, Dora Felts; 2 daughters, and 3 sons: Blanca Beltran, Henry Felts, Greg Felts, Georgette Geels, and Michael Felts; 13 grandchildren and 13 Great Grandchildren.

Ernest Felts III served in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. In 1948 he took basic training at Ft. Bliss, El Paso, Texas. 2 years later in December Ernest transferred to Trieste, Italy as a clerk, then as a General's Driver. In March 1951 while stationed in Ft. Riley, Kansas Ernest completed OCS training. A month later he was transferred back to Ft. Bliss, El Paso, Texas for Associates Basic Officers Course. September 1952 Ernest attended Army Liaison Flight Course which he was unable to complete. A year later he transferred to 4052 ASU, AAA and GM Center as Ex Officer, Battery A, 2nd BN Repl. Training Center. 1955 He found himself in Japan, Assistant S-3., HQ 99th FA. BN. then S-2. November 1956, Ernest was sent to 1st CAV. DIV. ARTY. as S-1 and Adjutant. Then, in January 1958, he was transferred to 337th RA. BN. Ft. Rucker AS. HQ. Battery Coudr. November the same year Ernest was relieved from active duty in Ft. Rucker, Alabama and moved his family to El Paso, Texas for residency and was employed by a civil engineering firm while attending school for Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso. March 1964 the family moved once more to Dallas, Texas where Ernest worked as a Contract Manager for "The Fabricators, Inc.", transferred to 4150 USAR school as a student officer, for Army Command and General Staff College. In August 1989 Ernest C. Felts III retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Ernest C. Felts III is preceded in death by his sons, Ernest Felts IV, Ernest Felts V; and daughter, Renee S. Felts.