Edward Decker, 81, son of Albert and Goldie Edwards Decker, was born March 6, 1926, at St. Louis. He died Sept. 30, 2007, at Cox Hospital in Springfield.
He married Margaret West in November 1950. They had two daughters.
Mr. Decker entered the Army May 2, 1944, was assigned to Company A 155th Battalion IRTC and received his training at Camp Hood, Texas. He left New York Nov. 24, 1944, and arrived at Marseille, France, in December 1944. He was engaged in battles in the Rhineland and Central Europe. He received a Purple Heart for an injury during the battle with Germany. He returned to the U.S. June 6, 1946, and was discharged June 12, 1946.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Licking, where he served faithfully.
Surviving are his wife; two daughters, Ellen Mallady of Lithia, Fla., and Karen Decker of Springfield; one brother, David Decker of Licking; three sisters, Virginia Garber of Ballwin, June Hoffman of Troy and Laura Ruth Williams of Elizabeth City, N.C.; and two grandsons.
Services were Oct. 3 at the United Methodist Church in Licking with the Rev. Connie Bell officiating. Burial with full military honors was in the Licking City Cemetery under the direction of Fox Funeral Home of Licking.
