Paul Leo Decker, Sr., 94, a former resident of Salem, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in Alabama where he had lived since 2009.
He is survived by his daughter in Alabama, Christina Fox and son-in-law Dr. Jim Fox; his son, Paul Leo Decker, Jr. of Natural Bridge Station, Va. and his wife, Sheila; granddaughter Dr. Ashleigh Edmonson and her husband Alex of Alabama; grandson Michael Paul Decker and his wife Dana Decker and their children Mariah, Morgan and Kinsley Decker of Roanoke.
Paul was a resident of Virginia for many years and was a great musician and played trombone since age 13. He was with the Navy Band while in service (1943-1945) and played with many other well-known musicians/bands in his career such as Dick Weems and Tommy Dorsey. He also played in the Roanoke Valley area with several different groups over the years. He was a retiree from General Electric in Salem where he worked for over 25 years as well.
He was married to Helen Grimes Decker for almost 50 years until her passing in 1998. He married Anna Yeager in 1999 until her death in 2007.
Paul was a great lover of the outdoors, Braves baseball, Alabama football, loved his filet steaks and crab legs! He always had a song in his heart and was always singing when not playing or even practicing his horn in his later years. Paul had lived in an assisted living facility since 2012 in Alabama.
Paul had attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help while living in Salem. His funeral mass was at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Birmingham in late December. Paul’s inurnment service will be this Saturday, Jan. 30, at 11 am at St. Andrew’s Diocesan Cemetery, 3601 Salem Turnpike, Roanoke, VA.
