Charles Lyle Decker Staunton, Virginia Obituary

Charles Lyle Decker

Charles Lyle Decker (Charlie) of Charlottesville, Virginia, passed away on December 11, 2014, at the family home after a brief illness. Charlie, the son of Katherine Hoplock Decker and Charles Fisher Decker, was born in Elizabeth City, New Jersey on July 24, 1934. He was the brother of Georgiana Decker Clifton and Carol Decker Ferguson. He graduated from Asheboro High School in North Carolina in 1952, and joined General Electric as a Quality Control Inspector that same year. In 1954, Charlie joined the Marines and attained the rank of Sergeant. While serving, he attended the Naval Air Tech Training Centers in Jacksonville, Florida and Memphis, Tennessee, and was trained as an Aircraft Electronics Technician. He was a Squadron Shop Supervisor of 13 men, maintaining air groups radio navigation and communication equipment. Charlie subsequently went on to study engineering at the N.C. State College in Raleigh, North Carolina and the University of Oklahoma, and took further courses at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1963. Charlie was again employed by General Electric Company in 1958 and retired from there in 1994. While employed, he invented the Unitary Insulation & Termination Member, which was a one-piece insulation & coil lead termination unit for relay coils. This invention was patented by General Electric in 1972. Charlie also developed a Shop Operations Process Planning, which was first utilized in October of 1982. In addition to his contributions to the company in the areas of budget control, manpower, training, and factory floor plans, he was instrumental in the design, development, and establishment of many new procedures, tools, fixtures, and assembly techniques, which served to further organize and maintain production at the factory level. He was predeceased by his parents Katherine and Charles Decker; his sister and brother-in-law, Georgiana and Bobby Clifton, of Asheboro, North Carolina; and his first wife, Patricia Ann Smith Decker, of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Charlie is survived by his wife of 30 years, Betty Harris Decker; his sister, Carol Decker Ferguson and her husband Sylvester Fergie Ferguson; his children, Deborah Decker of Charlottesville, Virginia; Charles Lyle Decker, Jr. and his wife, Maribeth, of Alexandria, Virginia; Susan Decker Summers and her husband Jeffrey Summers of Simpsonville, South Carolina; Barbara Decker Sturgis and Leland Sturgis, of Lyman, South Carolina; and Dianna Harris Pittman and her husband Dan Pittman, of Greenville, Virginia. Charlie is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, 4 nieces and 1 nephew. His beloved dogs, Sarge and Archie, and his cat Middie. Charlie was especially proud to have served his country as an air technician and pilot in the Marines. Once he retired from General Electric, he went on with his studies to become a private pilot and flight instructor at Charlottesville Flight Center. An avid golfer, Charlie also enjoyed reading and hunting. His love of family and his zest for life and sense of humor was treasured by all who knew him. Charlies passing has left holes in the fabric of many lives that will never adequately be filled again. A Celebration of life will be held at Greenmonte Fellowship Church in Stuarts Draft on Monday, December 15, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. by Pastors Earl Monroe and Seth Hankee with a reception following. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Active pallbearers will be Justin Zimmerman, Rusty Hall, William Tomlin, German Laconi, Zachary Pittman, and Daniel Pittman. It is suggested those desiring make contributions in Charlies name to: Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org, Toys For Tots www.toysfortots.org, or Paralyzed Veterans of America - www.pva.org. Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton is in charge of his arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.coffmanfuneralhome.net
July 24, 1934 - December 11, 201407/24/193412/11/2014
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Obituary

Charles Lyle Decker (Charlie) of Charlottesville, Virginia, passed away on December 11, 2014, at the family home after a brief illness. Charlie, the son of Katherine Hoplock Decker and Charles Fisher Decker, was born in Elizabeth City, New Jersey on July 24, 1934. He was the brother of Georgiana Decker Clifton and Carol Decker Ferguson. He graduated from Asheboro High School in North Carolina in 1952, and joined General Electric as a Quality Control Inspector that same year. In 1954, Charlie joined the Marines and attained the rank of Sergeant. While serving, he attended the Naval Air Tech Training Centers in Jacksonville, Florida and Memphis, Tennessee, and was trained as an Aircraft Electronics Technician. He was a Squadron Shop Supervisor of 13 men, maintaining air groups radio navigation and communication equipment. Charlie subsequently went on to study engineering at the N.C. State College in Raleigh, North Carolina and the University of Oklahoma, and took further courses at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1963. Charlie was again employed by General Electric Company in 1958 and retired from there in 1994. While employed, he invented the Unitary Insulation & Termination Member, which was a one-piece insulation & coil lead termination unit for relay coils. This invention was patented by General Electric in 1972. Charlie also developed a Shop Operations Process Planning, which was first utilized in October of 1982. In addition to his contributions to the company in the areas of budget control, manpower, training, and factory floor plans, he was instrumental in the design, development, and establishment of many new procedures, tools, fixtures, and assembly techniques, which served to further organize and maintain production at the factory level. He was predeceased by his parents Katherine and Charles Decker; his sister and brother-in-law, Georgiana and Bobby Clifton, of Asheboro, North Carolina; and his first wife, Patricia Ann Smith Decker, of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Charlie is survived by his wife of 30 years, Betty Harris Decker; his sister, Carol Decker Ferguson and her husband Sylvester Fergie Ferguson; his children, Deborah Decker of Charlottesville, Virginia; Charles Lyle Decker, Jr. and his wife, Maribeth, of Alexandria, Virginia; Susan Decker Summers and her husband Jeffrey Summers of Simpsonville, South Carolina; Barbara Decker Sturgis and Leland Sturgis, of Lyman, South Carolina; and Dianna Harris Pittman and her husband Dan Pittman, of Greenville, Virginia. Charlie is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, 4 nieces and 1 nephew. His beloved dogs, Sarge and Archie, and his cat Middie. Charlie was especially proud to have served his country as an air technician and pilot in the Marines. Once he retired from General Electric, he went on with his studies to become a private pilot and flight instructor at Charlottesville Flight Center. An avid golfer, Charlie also enjoyed reading and hunting. His love of family and his zest for life and sense of humor was treasured by all who knew him. Charlies passing has left holes in the fabric of many lives that will never adequately be filled again. A Celebration of life will be held at Greenmonte Fellowship Church in Stuarts Draft on Monday, December 15, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. by Pastors Earl Monroe and Seth Hankee with a reception following. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Active pallbearers will be Justin Zimmerman, Rusty Hall, William Tomlin, German Laconi, Zachary Pittman, and Daniel Pittman. It is suggested those desiring make contributions in Charlies name to: Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org, Toys For Tots www.toysfortots.org, or Paralyzed Veterans of America - www.pva.org. Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton is in charge of his arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.coffmanfuneralhome.net

Events

Dec
15
Celebration of Life
Monday, December 15 2014
11:00 AM
Greenmonte Fellowship Church

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