ERVIN DALE KOCH

Ervin Dale Koch was born May 18, 1936 two miles south of Lipscomb on the Wheat Place to Hillmer and Lottie Koch. He went to Heaven on September 15, 2020 at his home.

Ervin grew up in Lipscomb with his three brothers and three sisters. He attended school in Higgins, Lipscomb and in Darrouzett graduating from Darrouzett in 1954. He then went to Draughans Business College to study Telegraphy so he could work for the railroad. He worked for the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad in 1955 being the Station Agent from Fort Worth to Texline until 1957.  He then helped build Lake Fryer and also worked at the Darrouzett Co-op Filling Station.

In 1959 he was enlisted in the Army, stationed at Camp Chaffey in Fort Smith, Arkansas for boot camp. After boot camp he married Nina Clark on April 26, 1959 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lipscomb, Texas. They moved to Augusta, Georgia where Ervin was stationed at Fort Gordon for three months. In August of that year he was sent to Korea for thirteen months. While in Korea his first child, Kellie was born. In 1961 he finished up in the army at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma.

 Ervin, Nina and Kellie moved back to Lipscomb and lived in Daisy Webb's rent house for two years. While there his second child, Eddie was born. Ervin worked for Ivon DeMint and helped build the Locust Grove Highway. He also worked for the ASCS Office measuring wheat ground. In 1963 the family moved two miles south of Lipscomb on Ervin's Grandpa Jacob Koch's Farm which his Dad Hillmer had bought. The farm is half a mile East of the Wheat Place where Ervin was born. He would tell people - So the saying goes "You always come back where you started"!  While living on the Farm he worked on TV towers for Bill Colvin and later Bob Tipps. Then worked again for the Darrouzett Co-op Filling Station for fifteen years. One of his jobs  was to change tractor tires which was very hard on him but he could change it all by himself. After he left the Filling Station he leased farm ground from Hank Koch and Emerson Martin. He then worked for Bill Gunn doing carpentry work for fifteen years. During this time he also leased the family farm ground from his Dad Hillmer. Ervin stopped farming due to having his right lung removed on July 22, 2004 because of cancer. Since then he has had several serious surgeries but always recovered quickly. He found out August 31, 2020 the cancer came back in his only lung.  

Ervin was always a Christian and had a strong faith in the Lord. He was Confirmed in the St. John's Lutheran Church in Lipscomb and was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Darrouzett. He always helped anyone that needed help and was Lipscomb's handyman for many years. You could always count on Erv for a joke and a smile!

Ervin was preceded in death by his parents and one Grandson, Cade Koch. He is survived by his wife Nina of the home, daughter Kellie (Bernie) Kjos of Lipscomb, son Eddie (Dana) Koch of Canadian, grandsons Ryan Koch of Denver, CO and Kyler Koch of Lipscomb. Granddaughter-in-law Sierra Koch of Oklahoma City, OK and great-grandsons Cyrus Koch of Denver, CO and David Koch of Oklahoma City, OK. His brothers Alfred (Jimmie) Koch of Pampa, TX, Merlin (Jettie) Koch of Amarillo, TX, Vernon (Fae) Koch of Guymon, OK. His sisters Luella (Ernest) Miller of Darrouzett, TX, Dianna (Clifford) Schwab of Higgins, TX and Linda (Steve) Rader of Canadian, TX numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorials can be made in Ervin’s honor to the Wolf Creek Heritage Museum P.O. Box 5, Lipscomb, TX 79056 or St. Paul Luthern Church P.O. Box 8, Darrouzett, TX 79024.

VISITATION   1:00 P.M. ~ 5:00 PM    THURSDAY      9:00 A.M. ~ 10:00 A.M. FRIDAY AT MASON FUNERAL HOME SHATTUCK, OK

.