Obituary for James Frederick Decker
James Frederick Decker, 60, of Midlothian, TX, went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 27, 2023.
Known to his family and friends as ‘Jim,’ he was born on October 10, 1962, and grew up in the Village of Odessa in Schuyler County, New York. He played sports at Odessa-Montour Central School and graduated from Gardner-Webb College in North Carolina. He later moved to Texas (home of Tom Landry’s Cowboys) and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While in seminary he discovered his calling was outside of professional ministry and he became a Dallas Police Officer. After promotion to Senior Corporal, he had a stint in CBD bikes before he was selected to the SWAT Unit where he served as entry and a sniper. Later, as a Sergeant, he worked at the Northwest Division and found a passion for training. He would continue to train recruits and veteran officers at the Dallas Police Academy and within the Narcotics Unit until he retired after 30 years of service. Following retirement, he spent his time teaching courses at the Regional Police Academy in Arlington.
Jim and his family were members of First Baptist Church Midlothian since 1994. It gave him great joy to baptize all four of his children as they came to accept Christ. They still remember the scriptures he would write down for them along with the acronym ‘FTL’ (For the Lord). His spirit for teaching carried into church where he enjoyed leading Sunday school classes. Being a hunter from a young age in the woods of upstate New York, he loved taking his boys hunting and he was incredibly proud to see each get their first deer. He was most proud when his daughter, Katie, arrived to join the family (she was always his favorite daughter). His blessings continued when he became a grandfather, and he was lovingly called ‘Sarge.’
Jim is preceded in death by his father, Donald Decker. He is survived by his mother, Peggy Decker of Newport News, VA; children, Caleb (Alison) Decker of Burleson, TX, Shane (Joanna) Decker of Houston, TX, Grant Decker and Katie Decker, both of Fort Worth, TX; former wife, Kathleen Decker of Kennedale, TX; grandchildren, Susanna and Vivian Decker of Burleson, TX; and siblings, Donna (Chris) Beardsley of Newport News, VA, and Mark (Tammy) Decker of Mansfield, TX. He is also survived by his nephew and nieces, Brian, Amber, Jessica, Kylie and Lindsey.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate-online/
Known to his family and friends as ‘Jim,’ he was born on October 10, 1962, and grew up in the Village of Odessa in Schuyler County, New York. He played sports at Odessa-Montour Central School and graduated from Gardner-Webb College in North Carolina. He later moved to Texas (home of Tom Landry’s Cowboys) and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While in seminary he discovered his calling was outside of professional ministry and he became a Dallas Police Officer. After promotion to Senior Corporal, he had a stint in CBD bikes before he was selected to the SWAT Unit where he served as entry and a sniper. Later, as a Sergeant, he worked at the Northwest Division and found a passion for training. He would continue to train recruits and veteran officers at the Dallas Police Academy and within the Narcotics Unit until he retired after 30 years of service. Following retirement, he spent his time teaching courses at the Regional Police Academy in Arlington.
Jim and his family were members of First Baptist Church Midlothian since 1994. It gave him great joy to baptize all four of his children as they came to accept Christ. They still remember the scriptures he would write down for them along with the acronym ‘FTL’ (For the Lord). His spirit for teaching carried into church where he enjoyed leading Sunday school classes. Being a hunter from a young age in the woods of upstate New York, he loved taking his boys hunting and he was incredibly proud to see each get their first deer. He was most proud when his daughter, Katie, arrived to join the family (she was always his favorite daughter). His blessings continued when he became a grandfather, and he was lovingly called ‘Sarge.’
Jim is preceded in death by his father, Donald Decker. He is survived by his mother, Peggy Decker of Newport News, VA; children, Caleb (Alison) Decker of Burleson, TX, Shane (Joanna) Decker of Houston, TX, Grant Decker and Katie Decker, both of Fort Worth, TX; former wife, Kathleen Decker of Kennedale, TX; grandchildren, Susanna and Vivian Decker of Burleson, TX; and siblings, Donna (Chris) Beardsley of Newport News, VA, and Mark (Tammy) Decker of Mansfield, TX. He is also survived by his nephew and nieces, Brian, Amber, Jessica, Kylie and Lindsey.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate-online/