Earl Arthur Decker, Sr., “Jimmy Stix”, of Warwick, passed away on February 23, 2014 at home after a brief illness. He was 80 years old.
Born on January 16, 1934 in Greenwood Lake, NY, he was the son of the late Earl Lester and Christina (Muir) Decker.
He was married to the late Mary Frances (Coughlin) Decker.
Earl served with the US Army during the Korean War. He worked for the Ford Motor Company in Mahwah, NJ, retiring in 1982. He then worked as a Maintenance Man with the Rosmarin Day Camp in Monroe, NY until he was 79 years old.
A wonderful father and grandfather, Earl, known as Mr. “D”, was a champion pool player. He played on the Frontier Lanes pool leagues for many years and he enjoyed watching classic movies. He was also known by those close to him as “The General”.
He is survived by his three daughters: Patricia Van Dyke and her husband Stephen Rokita of Warwick, Diana Rodriguez and her husband Dan of Nashville, TN, and Denise D’Attilico and her husband Vincent of Warwick; seven grandchildren: Richard Alan Van Dyke, Jr., Shari Balk and her husband Michael, Clarice D’Attilico, Cassie Decker, Karrissa Decker, Tara Siebert, and Chelsea Rodriguez and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his twin sister, Mary “Susan” Nenna of Ferndale, NY, brothers Leon Decker of Middletown and Edwin Decker of Monroe, and sister Lillian Calo of Orange, NJ.
He was preceded in death by a son, Earl Arthur Decker, Jr., a daughter, Carol Ann Mahoney, a sister, Christine Penaluna and a brother, Robert Decker.
Visitation will be on Thursday, February 27th, from 5:00-8:00 pm at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Avenue, Warwick. Funeral service will be at 10:00 am on Friday at the funeral home, followed by interment in Warwick Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be sent to Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.