Donald Lowell Deckard

Donald Lowell Deckard was born on February 20th, 1936 to Howard and Gayle Deckard at Bloomington Hospital in Bloomington, Indiana. He was a lifelong resident of Bloomington and was loved by all who knew him. He attended McCalla Elementary School, Central Junior High School and Bloomington Senior High School graduating in 1954. He was a member of the Varsity Basketball Team and maintained friendships with his classmates throughout his life. Directly after high school Don worked for Sarkes Tarzian, a company in Bloomington that manufactured radio and television equipment. He worked there for nine years as a Material Control Foreman. In l958 at the age of 22 he enlisted in the Army and took Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He earned Certification in Basic Army Administration and Military Law. He was in Active Duty for 6 months and was then in the Army Reserves for the next 5 ½ years. He was Honorably Discharged from the Army on April 7, 1965. During the summer of 1963 he worked the night shift at RCA. Don began working for the Bloomington City Fire Department in December of l963. He worked as a Firefighter for 32 years retiring in 1996. During the days between his shift at the fire station he began interior house finishing for Dave Woodward, a painter and building contractor who later hired Don full time. While working for Dave he learned wood staining, lacquering and wall paper hanging, and subsequently was hired to do interior finishing for many doctors and dentists offices as well as their houses. During those years he became a Painting Contractor and worked for Don Mitchell, Dave Hinkle, Jerry Johnson and Mel Richardson who were all building contractors. Don retired from working as a painter and interior wood finisher when he built his house on Mount Gilead Road in 1988.

Don is survived by this wife, Diane Davis-Deckard, his four children and their spouses: Robin Deckard Czarnecki-Griffin and Ralph Griffin, LeaDawn Stogdill and Gregg Stogdill, Clinton Deckard and Amie Deckard, and Stephanie Spratley and Campbell Dodd; one step-son: Lee Davis and Mary Davis; 10 grandchildren, one step-grandchild, and 4 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Gayle Deckard, his first wife Peggy Cunningham Deckard, and his brother Joseph Deckard.

There will be no visitation. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, May 30th at the First Presbyterian Church, at 6th Street and Lincoln in Bloomington from 3:00-4:30 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Deckard Cemetery Association c/o Jeannie Deckard; 4725 E. State Road 46; Bloomington, IN 47401; or to the Bloomington Metropolitan Firefighters 586 c/o Bob Loviscek; P.O. Box 474; Bloomington, IN 47402.