Henry E. Decker

Henry E. “Gene” Decker, 84, of Walnut Creek, died Tuesday, January 14, 2003, at Walnut Hills Nursing Home in Walnut Creek.Born on November 25, 1918 in Salem Twp. near Port Washington, he was a son of the late Henry C. and Mildred Riggle Decker. Gene spent most of his life living on a small farm in Washington Township near Newcomerstown and graduated from Port Washington High School in 1936. From there, he went on to honorably serve his country in the US Army Airforce. In 1983, Gene retired from Simonds Tools in Newcomerstown where he was employed as a toolmaker. Gene was an active member at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and recently received his 50th year pin from the Newcomerstown Masonic Lodge, Nugen Chapter 124. Surviving is a daughter, Linda (Victor) Turner of Sugarcreek; twin sons, Timothy Michael (Sharron) Decker of Laurelville, OH, and Thomas Henry (Christine) Decker of Montville, NJ; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchild; a sister, Treva (Bill) Cotton of New Philadelphia; two brothers, Robert (Evelyn) Decker of Newcomerstown and Lewis (Eva) Decker of Ellenton, Florida; and one daughter-in-law, Eileen Decker of Fort Myers, Florida.In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by his wife, the former Ethel M. McDonnell in May 1985 and a son, Daniel E. Decker.A private funeral service will be held Saturday, January 18, 2003 at 11 AM at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home in New Philadelphia. Burial will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Community Chapel Cemetery in Newcomerstown with military rites presented by the Newcomerstown Veterans Organizations. Visitation will be held Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. with a masonic service beginning at 10:45. Immediately following the funeral service, a luncheon will be held at the Geib Family Center located directly behind the funeral home. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, Area Office #12, 201-A W. Ohio Ave., Dover, OH, 44622 or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 121 S. College Street, Newcomerstown, OH, 43832.