Ernest Fred "Bud" Decker

Ernest Fred "Bud" Decker
of BinghamtonErnest Fred "Bud" Decker was born November 21, 1915. Our Lord took him home from Lourdes Hospital, Wednesday, April 9, 2003. He was predeceased by his parents, Ernest F. and Bessie N. Decker; his sister, Elizabeth; and his beloved first wife of 47 years, Ruth Elizabeth Johnson Decker. He is survived by his beloved second wife and caregiver of 18 1/2 years, Phyllis; son, Gary (wife Sandra); grandson, Gary Alden (wife Lisa); daughter, Linda (husband David E. Meade); grandson, David Eddie (wife Patty); granddaughter, Heather Anne (husband Eric Chansler); great-grandchildren, Michelle Meade, Jennifer Meade, David Emory Meade, Erik Chansler and Britani Chansler; niece, Donna (Ronald) Fitzpatrick; stepdaughters, Jeanette Grover (husband Dale), Patricia Allyn (husband Howard); and step grandchildren, Christopher Allyn (wife Jenn), Melanie Hager, Julie and Emily Grover. "Bud" graduated in the first graduating class at West Junior High School and Central High School (1938). He worked at United Shoe Machinery for 23 years, GAF, Vestal, for 21 years. He joined the Old Nimmonsburg Church when he was in his teens. He has been a member of the choirs, church school, Young Adult Group, Older Adult House Group, Official Board, Board of Trustees and the Administrative Board. He has done maintenance painting of the church School rooms, original painting of the nursery room and the Weslyn Rooms, including church school rooms, kitchen, choir room and the main room. He also did most of the painting, with minimal help, on the old church parsonage. He served as a Boy Scout Leader in the church for 16 years. Bud has many memorable experiences with church and neighborhood youth and cherishes them. He was baptized in the old church when Rev. George Youngs was minister. In 1939, Ruth's family (Johnson) deeded a portion of land to "Bud" and Ruth to build their home on. Theirs was the first home built and the road had to be originated for the home to be built. They named the road Johnson Road. The family was privileged to spend many summers and some winters in the Adirondack Mountains which they cherished and their children and grandchildren still have this love of those great mountains.
A memorial service will be held Monday, 11 a.m, at the Nimmonsburg United Methodist Church with Rev. David Rockwell officiating. Burial will be in the Kattelville Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Endowment Fund of the Nimmonsburg United Methodist Church, 918 Front St., Binghamton, N.Y., or Lourdes Hospice, 169 Riverside Dr., Binghamton, N.Y. 13905.