Ronald Miles Decker, of Alpharetta, Ga., and Haines Falls, N.Y., who grew up in Forest Hills Gardens, died June 17 at his home in Georgia after a long illness. He was 80.
Decker attended Northfield Mount Hermon School. He graduated from Cornell University, was the president of the Delta Upsilon fraternity and later married Katherine Kindred. He had a lifetime career in management for Western Electric, a division of AT&T.
The Deckers bought a mountain home in Twilight Park in the Catskills in 1960. They soon became leaders in the community, with Ron serving as president and Katherine as the treasurer. He was active in the Mountaintop Historical Society and sought to preserve literary and art antiquities from the area.
Hiking the Catskill Mountains energized Ron and motivated him to participate in two New York City marathons. In addition, he traveled the world and participated in long-distance sailboat cruising.
He is predeceased by his first wife of 45 years and is survived by his second wife of eight years, Viviane Khayatt Decker; three sons; six grandchildren; and brother.
A memorial service is planned for Sept. 8 at All Angels Church at Twilight Park in Haines Falls. The family asks that in lieu of flowers memorial gifts be sent to the Haines Falls Free Library or the Arthritis Foundation.
