Richard W. Decker

1926 - 2017

Richard Warren Decker, passed on March 18, 2017. He was born on March 7, 1926 in Parma, Ohio, the 4th son out of 5 of Earl & Laura Decker. The youngest of the Decker boys, James Underhill and wife Jean still live in Ohio. He married Rosemarie Kurtos on July 5, 1947, a classmate from Strongsville High School in Ohio. She preceded him in death on October 4, 2013. He joined the Navy out of high school and served during WWII in the Philippines as a communications person. After returning home & with Rosemarie, he pursued his bachelors' degree at the University of Iowa Ames & a Masters at Kent State University in Physics and Mathematics. Richard worked his entire career at Westinghouse Electric; the first 10 years at the research lab in Pittsburgh, which he said was the best part of his career; all fun, very little bureaucracy. He worked in fundamental tube design & x-ray work; recall when Kathy swallowed a safety pin; he took her to the lab; did some calculations, and imaged Kathy's belly to see if it was open or closed. When he transferred to Baltimore, Westinghouse was building up its defense business; and as a physicist, he was charged with solving complex manufacturing problems that required a strong background in fundamental physics. He rose to the title of Principal Engineer. He enjoyed travel and crisscrossed this country & parts of England many times. He shared this love of travel with his family, most of who inherited his wandering spirit. He also was an avid poker player, enjoying many a lively evening with friends from Holmehurst Ave of Catonsville. He enjoyed serving on a number of administrative boards; one as President of the Underhill Society, a genealogical society and the urban improvement project in Catonsville, MD. He enjoyed the company of the children on the street in his later years, entertaining them as he & Rosemarie sat on the swing on the front porch. Mr. Decker also participated for over a decade in the memory-writing group in Elderhostel program, Notre Dame. He & his writing colleagues produced a book of memories, Filling in the Dash, of which he was very proud. He spoke often and highly of his children & their spouses; the oldest, Kathleen and husband John Macleod, Hereford, AZ, Rick and wife Dr. Su Willard of Kingsville, his highly independent daughter, Karen of Urbana, Illinois, and Russell & his wife Lauren, Arnold, MD. He is the proud grandfather to one granddaughter, Brooke (husband John Bellinger) and seven grandsons; Christopher MacLeod (wife Cait), Jonathan Decker (wife Sarah Mendiola), Justin Decker (wife Katie), Matthew MacLeod, Ryan Decker (wife Danielle), Andrew MacLeod (wife Amy), and Daniel Decker (wife Mallory). Our family is blessed with three great-grandchildren, Brooke and John's daughter Willow, Justin and Katie's son, Gilmore and daughter Gabrielle. A Celebration of Life on Monday, April 10, 4:00 p.m. at Charlestown Village, Renaissance Gardens. In lieu of flowers, make contributions to Gilchest: Guiding the Way, a non-profit hospice, these lovely people made dad's final months reasonable.