DECKER, PAUL

SPARTA — Paul Decker, 80, died Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at home.

Born in Rockaway to Eliza and Frank Decker, he was a lifelong resident of Sparta. Mr. Decker attended Newton High School before entering the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served in the Marine Raider Battalion during World War II. He received two Purple Heart awards before being discharged in 1945.

He then worked for Arthur D. Crane Co. in Sparta until 1957, when he began Double D Builders in Sparta, which he owned and operated with his partner, Ford Dennis, until his retirement in 2004. Mr. Decker was a 59-year member and former chief of the Sparta Fire Department. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sparta, Lake Saginaw Beach Club in Sparta, the United States Marine Raider Association, and a life member of the Sussex County Marine Corps League.

Mr. Decker was the beloved husband of 54 years of Mary Decker; loving father of John R. Decker and his wife Debby of Dallas, Texas, Julia M. Decker and her husband David of Plantation, Fla., and Patrick M. Decker and his wife Kathleen of Sparta; devoted grandfather of Patrick Decker, Nicole Decker, and Eric Buckley; cherished brother of Robert Decker of Jensen Beach, Fla., Hewitt Decker of Hardyston and the late Francis Cofod.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main St., Sparta. A fireman’s service will be held Friday at 8 p.m. A funeral service will celebrate Mr. Decker’s life on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Sparta.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sparta Fire Department Building Fund, 141 Woodport Road, Sparta, N.J. 07871.