Roll Call Tribute

Published in Dallas Morning News on June 25, 2016

Howard Grant "Pete" Decker Jr.(1919 - 2016)
DECKER, JR., Howard Grant "Pete" Howard Grant "Pete" Decker, Jr., 97, of Dallas, a retired architect and WWII veteran, died on June 23, 2016. Born June 6, 1919 in Greenville, TX to Mae and H.G. Decker, he was a graduate of Texas A&M and an enthusiastic Aggie alumnus. He flew with the 86th Fighter Group in the Army Air Corps in WWII, receiving a special citation from Washington for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy in Italy in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations on May 25, 1944 and was personally awarded the Croix de guerre for Operation Strangle in France. He started his first architecture firm in Dallas in 1948 with classmate Bill Hidell designing mid-century modern homes and commercial and industrial properties then in 1952 continued his work as Howard G. Decker Architect until his retirement in the 80s. He is survived by his wife Carol of 74 years, daughter Diane, son Lee & wife Valerie and granddaughters Emily, Kendall, Madelyn and Frances. He was preceded in death by his son Grant and his sister Dorothy. Donations can be sent to the Veterans of Foreign Wars at www.vfw.org.