HOUSTON - William 'Bill' Springall Decker Jr. died Nov 29, in Houston. He was born on Sept. 25, 1947, to W.S. 'Bill' Decker Sr. and Florence 'Flo' Wright Decker in San Marcos. During his childhood, he lived in San Marcos; Snyder; Crane; Lovington, New Mexico; Eunice, New Mexico and Stanton, where he graduated from Stanton High School.
Following high school, he attended Tarleton State College where he earned a degree in Plant and Soil Science. During college, he took a two year 'break' to serve in the Army as a radio and cryptograph operator and was stationed in Germany. While at Tarleton, he met his wife, Rebecca 'Becky' Goodwin, and they were married on May 22, 1971 in Tolar.
Following their graduation, they moved back to Stanton, where he worked as a welder and machinist in Bill Sr.'s machine shop. He changed careers and moved into law enforcement, beginning as a Deputy Sheriff in Glasscock County and moved his family to the county seat, Garden City. A short time later he gained employment as a Deputy with the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the family moved to Midland. While working as a deputy, he earned a Criminal Justice degree from the University of Texas, Permian Basin (UTPB). He was a long time employee of Midland County, moving from law enforcement to carpentry, then to Facilities Supervisor and finally as the Road and Bridge department manager. Following his retirement from Midland County, he worked in business development for GSSW, Inc and for the Trinity River Authority.
He was passionate about his pet dogs, horses (having owned several over the years) and collecting rocks and minerals.
He was a gifted woodworker and leatherworker. There wasn't anything he couldn't make out of wood, metal or leather.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Flo Decker, as well as four grandchildren, Kathryn, Kyle, Joel, and Seth Decker.
He is survived by brother Bert Decker (Lynn) of San Angelo; sister Kathy Decker Beardain (Weldon) of Dennison; wife of 52 years Becky; children W.S. 'Will' Decker III (Natalie) of League City; Wendy Decker Chambers (Greg) of Fairlawn, Ohio, and Kristy Decker Copeland of Midland; five grandchildren: Nathaniel Decker, Brad and Zach Chambers, Laney and Tate Copeland as well as eight nieces and nephews.
A graveside service at the Kyle Cemetery in Kyle will be at a later date.