R. T. Acker

R. T. Acker, age 95, of Decatur, passed away Monday, March 30, 2015 at Huntsville Hospital. A Celebration of Life will be Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at Roselawn Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.

Mr. Acker was born January 22, 1920 to William Oscar and Adeline Elizabeth Bush Acker.

R. T. graduated from Bessemer High School and worked in the steel mills in Birmingham, Alabama. During WWII he joined the Army Air Corps and served as an airplane and engine mechanic in the 59th Squadron 33rd Fighter Group in Algeria, French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Burma and China. He was awarded the Distinguished Unit Badge, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 1 Silver Star, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars and the Good Conduct Medal. After the war he married his pen pal, Ruth Adele Weishaupt of Detroit, Michigan. Using the G. I. Bill to earn a barber degree, he opened Red’s Barber Shop in Detroit, Michigan. In 1958 he moved to Decatur, Alabama and joined his brother, Cal Acker, serving as a public accountant for the next 30 years.

R. T. was a member of several local organizations including the Elks Club, Eagles Club, the VFW and the American Legion. He was a member of the Decatur and then Huntsville wards of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints.

Mr. Acker was preceded in death by his wife: Ruth Weishaupt Acker, parents, 4 brothers and 3 sisters.

He is survived by his son: Russell Acker (Sharron) of Decatur, AL., daughters: Karin Acker Feild (Frank) of Fitzgerald, GA., Deborah Acker Mitchell (Rick) of Kennesaw, GA., and Donna Acker Smith of Decatur, AL., sister: Dody Nichols (Walter) of Bessemer, AL., grandchildren: John Smith, Matthew Smith, Luke Smith, Jesse Mitchell, Alec Mitchell, Colin Mitchell, Taylor Acker, Jessica Gibbs, and Rebecca Thomas and 15 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Mr. Acker’s grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers will be Miles Powell and Walter Nichols.

Donations may be made to Wounded Warriors.