- Date Of Birth: April 26, 1922
- Date Of Death: October 13, 2009
- State: Michigan
Dalton LaClair Decker, age 87, of Midland, MI, died peacefully Tuesday evening, Oct. 13, 2009. The son of Dewey and Martha was born on Apr. 26, 1922, in Meno, OK. He was raised in Texline, TX, and graduated from Oklahoma Bible Academy in 1939. Dalton graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, where he met Laura Jean Barnum. They were married on August 6, 1948, in Baltimore, MD, and shared 58 years together until her death in 2006. At the age of 48, he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Central Michigan University. He worked as a chemist for 35 years at Dow Chemical Company, retiring in 1986. As a lifelong Christian and a member of Midland Reformed Church for 55 years, Dalton leaves a rich legacy of service to God and others. He provided leadership in Boy Scouts, Young Life, and in the church and was affectionately known by children there as Grandpa Decker.
As a husband, father, and grandfather, Dalton’s love and heartfelt support were cherished by his family. He is lovingly remembered by his daughters and sons-in-law: Kristine Decker of Midland, MI; Kathleen and Herb Ward of Flintstone, GA; Sue Anne and Michael Schwinn of Norfolk, VA; Jane and Phil Tuls of Fremont, MI; and Rebecca and Martin McCorkle of Chapel Hill, NC; and his twelve grandchildren: Laura and David Ward; Erin, Nathan, and Jonathan Schwinn; Dan, Christina, Shawn, and Annika Tuls; Max, Andrew, and Grant McCorkle; and his sister Lois Childress and
Brother-in-law Cecil McCellan, both of Texline, TX.
A service to celebrate Dalton’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at Midland Reformed Church with a brief graveside service at Midland City Cemetery; a luncheon at the church will immediately follow.
