Edwin D. Decker

1928 - 2024

Edwin D. Decker passed away on February 21, 2024 at his home in Royal Oak, Maryland. He was born on August 17,1928 in Brooklyn, New York where he lived with his parents Derek and Mildred Decker and siblings Marilyn Richards and Roger Decker. He was married to Ruth Decker in 1953 who predeceased him by three months. In 1951 he graduated from The City College of New York and was employed by the U.S. Navy as an Ordinance Engineer and then received a direct commission in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was employed by the Ford Instrument Division of the Sperry Corporation and progressed to the position of Director of Engineering in 1968 and Vice President/General Manager in 1980. In 1984 he was appointed to Corporate Vice President and President of the Defense Products Group of the Sperry Gyroscope Division. In 1987, he joined the United Technologies Corporation as President of the Norden Systems Division. He retired to the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1990 where he volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and became Chairman of the Building Committee. He also served on the Board of Environmental Concerns a non-profit dedicated to restoring wetlands and was a volunteer of Eastern Shore's SCORE counseling clients in starting a new business. Ed was a kind and gentle man with a terrific sense of humor who extended respect and courtesy to everyone he met. He was an enthusiastic golfer and avid fisherman. He treasured the time with his family on their "Stargazer" boats over the years. He deeply loved his wife Ruth of 70 years, his three children, Derek, Jan, and Jill and four grandchildren Hallie, Edward, John and Grace. The immediate family will be holding a private service at a later date. In memory of Edwin Decker, contributions to Habitat for Humanity/Choptank are welcome. https://habitatchoptank.charityproud.org/Donate.