Earl Capps Jr.'s Obituary
On the afternoon of April 6, 2026, Christ took Earl by the hand and led him home. Spiritually ready and yearning to be whole again, he passed peacefully into eternal rest.
Service Information: Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Rader Funeral Home in Henderson, TX, with the funeral service held immediately after at 11:00 a.m. with Bro. Pete Thompson officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in New London, TX.
Earl, affectionately known as “Bean,” was born in Groesbeck, TX, on January 12, 1930, to Earl Capps and Lola Redding Capps. During the hardships of the Great Depression, his family migrated to Corpus Christi for work when Earl was just seven years old.
At the age of 15, toward the end of WWII, Earl became the very first person to enlist at the new U.S. Marine Corps recruiting office in Corpus Christi. In honor of the occasion, the local school even closed for half a day. As a seagoing Marine, he spent months stationed in the Pacific and served in the Marine Corps Color Guard, representing the discipline and tradition of the Corps. Among his many cherished stories was his call to serve during the infamous prison break at Alcatraz.
Earl viewed education as a profound honor. A lifelong learner, he instilled a deep respect for knowledge in his children. After graduating from Kilgore College, he attended both the University of Houston and Stephen F. Austin State University. While at SFA, he joined the Army Reserve; during the Korean Conflict, his unit was the first in Texas to be called up. He spent two years in Japan, dedicated to the vital work of building tanks.
Though Earl accepted the gift of salvation at a young age while attending Meadow Park Baptist Church, it was at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church where his life changed forever. There, he saw a beautiful girl named Ann Richardson singing in the choir. They would go on to spend the next 58 years together, building a family and a lifetime of memories.
Upon returning from his service, Earl completed his student teaching at Henderson High School. While he ultimately chose a different path, his career was as varied as his interests. He served with the Longview Police Department before settling into a long career in the oilfield. Following his retirement, he served as a guard at Bradshaw State Prison.
Reflecting on his "colorful" life, Earl often remarked that his greatest source of pride was his late wife and his three children. He was a humble, self-sacrificing man who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Earl was preceded in death by: his parents; his beloved wife, Ann; brother, Bob Capps; sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Porter Lunsford; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Betty McCoy and Herman Spence.
Those left to cherish his memory are his children: son, Billy Capps; daughter, Patti (Mike) Bryan; and daughter, Jeri (Jon Marc) Coke; grandchildren: Seth (Alba) Capps, Grey (Ashley) Bryan, and Kellen Coke; great-grandchildren: Eve, Isaac, and Lily Capps; Stryder, Lincoln, and Rory Bryan; sister-in-law, Helen Capps; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to his loving caregivers: Sheila Floyd, Kim Bishop, and Joyce Thomas.
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