Funeral services for Howard James DeRossett, 79, of Duncanville, formerly of Wills Point, are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 25, 2016, at Duncanville's First Baptist Church in Duncanville with Pastor Keith Brister officiating. Interment will follow at Edgewood Cemetery in Lancaster under the direction of Allan Fuller Funeral Home in Wills Point.

He passed away early Tuesday morning, March 22, 2016, in Dallas.

Howard was born March 5, 1937, in Dallas, the son of Walter Brown DeRossett and Vernia Nadine Lilly DeRossett. He was raised in Dallas and attended school in South Oak Cliff. On July 6, 1957, he married Lillie Hudson in Dallas. Howard worked for Sanger Bros. Department Store prior to entering the food vending business, working for several companies before becoming co-owner of Tri-Vending in 1964. He retired in 1991 and worked several years for Brijon. Howard loved fishing, hunting, playing golf, and collecting die-cast model cars. His favorite pastime was sitting in his recliner watching old westerns. Howard liked building and he remodeled every home in which he lived, including three fifth-wheels. He moved to Wills Point in 1994 and returned to Duncanville in 2009. Howard was a former member of Biglow Street Baptist Church; Fairmeadows Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher, deacon, treasurer and was a choir member. He later joined Duncanville's First Baptist Church.

Preceded in death by his parents, Walter & Nadine DeRossett; three brothers, Jack Phillips, W.B. DeRossett and Thomas DeRossett and two sisters, Martha Smith and Nell Cozzo.

Howard is survived by his wife, Lillie DeRossett, of Duncanville; daughter, Belinda DeRossett, of Duncanville; son, Clint DeRossett & wife, Jana, of Duncanville; sister, Donna Dell Weems & husband, Chuck, of Lavon; two grandchildren, Ty DeRossett, of Duncanville and Lisa Rendon & husband, Felix, of Duncanville; three great-grandchildren, Corbin James Rendon, of Duncanville, Lukas Rendon, of Duncanville and Kelsie Rendon, of Duncanville; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and two faithful dogs, Major and Button.

Family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.