Robert Gore Dekle

Robert Gore Dekle, age 97, of Montgomery, Alabama, departed this life on Friday, July 15, 2022. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, D. B. Stanton and Annie Dekle, and 8 brothers and sisters: Walter (Virginia) Dekle, Christine (Glen) Baxter, D. B. (Gerry) Dekle, John (Elizabeth) Dekle, George Dekle, Annie Will (Charlie) Bodiford, Mary Grace (Wilbur) Richardson, and Lou (Betty Ann) Dekle. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barbara W. Dekle, sister-in-law Vera Dekle, children Dennis (Susan) Dekle, Pamela Dekle Twigg, and Robert Kerry (Fran) Dekle; grandchildren Sarah (Michael) Payne, Rachel Twigg, Joseph Dekle, and Zachary Dekle; great-grandchildren Caroline Payne and Julianne Payne; numerous nephews and nieces, and many friends and acquaintances.

Robert was born and grew up in the small community of Cecil, Ala. His father was a foreman for the railroad, and the family lived in a house right next to the tracks. Throughout his entire life, his love for that country spot never diminished. He bonded strongly with his crew of brothers and sisters, the Pike Road School he attended, and the life-long friends he knew there. His favorite excursion was a trip back to visit family, friends, and old favorite sites.

His love of trains began with the sound of the whistle in his baby ears and never left. Trains of all kinds were one the passions of his life, and he loved everything about them: taking trips on them, telling stories about them, and watching the more than one hundred train videos he owned. No one had to guess what to buy him for Christmas! The best fun he could have was playing with his grandsons when they visited with their toy train sets. After retirement, he and his brothers George and Lou took some memorable train trips, including the famous Cross Canada train, which he always talked about with great excitement.

He became a railroad ticket agent for a short while after serving in the Army at the end of WW II. He recalled many times with glee about once meeting and talking to the famous Hank Williams when Hank traveled by train through his station.

After finishing a 2-year accounting course at Massey-Draughon, he became an accountant with Swift & Co. packing plant in Montgomery for 15 years until the plant closed. After that, he worked for the Revenue Dept., State of Alabama. He later transferred to the Dept. of Agriculture, Petroleum Commodities Div., where he was later appointed Head of the Division until he retired in the early nineties.

He was a consummate storyteller and never failed to have an amusing comment or story for you, along with a warm smile. He never met a stranger, and he had friends in every corner of the state. Everywhere he went, he was sure to run into one person that he knew. He had an uncanny ability to converse with just about anyone and find something that they had in common. His stories of Cecil, Pike Road, and growing up there were endless, and he never got tired of lovingly telling them, always with a giggle, laugh, and smile. When he was younger, he was a practical joker, and could take it as well as he could give it. He loved eating good country cooking, visiting family, joking and laughing with his brothers, and listening to music, especially gospel, country, and big band. One of his favorite pastimes in later years was watching reruns of great TV comedies, his favorite being “Andy Griffith.” Don Knotts, as Barney, was his all-time favorite, and we were often treated to hilarious imitations of characters on the show.

Robert was an outstanding and loving father to Dennis, Pam, and Kerry, and was a steadfast and devoted husband to Barbara for nearly 65 years. His children remember him as the chauffeur of the family, at the helm of the blue family station wagon, both Ford and Chevy. When they were little, they knew him as the world’s greatest impersonator of cartoon voices, especially Droopy and Popeye. They fondly recall him grilling hamburgers and hot dogs on hot summer nights and cutting open a watermelon on the picnic table for dessert. Lots of good times were had watching Montgomery Rebels baseball games at Patterson Field and listening to Auburn football games on the radio.

He loved children, all children: his own children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and strangers. It gave him great delight to make them smile. Andes mints were always available. He saved pocket change endlessly to slip to a struggling college student and all ages of grandchildren. Robert had a knack of making any visitors feel welcome and comfortable in the family home.

He loved Christmas with the passion of a child, eagerly awaiting and enjoying all phases of the adored holiday, along with his children and grandchildren. He lived a Christian life and read his tiny, pocket Bible every day. When he was younger, he was a Deacon at Brewer Baptist Church at Cecil, where he and Barbara were married.

He will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him and there is now a void in the world that can never be filled.

Robert’s family wishes to express special thanks to the Baptist Medical Center East medical staff who attended him with extraordinary care and professionalism during his recent stay.

Those who wish to make a donation may consider the Montgomery Cancer Center or a charity of your choice.

Visitation hours with the family will begin at 4:00 PM, Wednesday, July 20 at Leak Memorial Chapel. A graveside service for family only will be held at 11:00 AM at Alabama Heritage Cemetery on Thursday, July 21. Masks will be required at both ceremonies.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Leak-MC.com for the Dekle family.