Ernest Dickens was born April 2, 1956, to the parentage of Charles and Ollie Moore Dickens in Waskom, TX.

He was raised in Waskom, where he attended Gainesville Church of God in Christ. Ernest graduated from Waskom High School in 1974 and was a talented athlete in basketball, football, and track.

Ernest was affectionately known as "Bub" and the family comedian among his siblings. He served in the U.S. Army from 1974 – 1976; attended Cedar Valley College in Dallas for technology and Texas State Technical College in Marshall for an electrician trade. He loved fishing, reading, watching sports, and collecting maps. Ernest also enjoyed talking with and guiding his nieces, nephews and young relatives. Not only was he a loving caretaker to his mother, he tended the gardens, animals and the family land. Ernest wasn't a man of many words, but his actions spoke volumes.  He loved his family and helped as needed.

He is preceded in death by his parents Ollie Moore Dickens and Charles Austin Dickens; (2) sisters Annie Jewel Robinson, and Deborah Ann Hawkins; and a brother Donald Ray Dickens.

Ernest leaves to cherish his memory his (4) sisters: Fay (John) Marshall, Ola Murphy, Ollie (Tony) Cannon, and Patsy (Kenneth) Henry and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.