Thomas Andrew Decker, Jr.

It is with sorrow we announce the death of Thomas A. Decker Jr, of Arlington, Virginia who died March 3, 2026 following an extended illness. He passed on the morning of the lunar eclipse as the darkened clouds wisped him up into the heavens. Through his journey of 73 years, he touched many with his kindness, tenacity, and perseverance. Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, Tom attended the University of Akron and received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Following graduation, he moved to the Washington,DC area and accepted a position with Beaver Press where he was employed for 32 years. He was hard-working and dependable, enjoyed interacting with customers and securing government contracts for the company. Following the closing of the company, Tom later worked many years in the Inova Juniper Program working with HIV/AIDS clients to assist them with support services they needed in their care. Tom was also active in the community volunteering to visit AIDS patients in the hospital or advocating on Capitol Hill to various committees to continue funding for HIV medications.

Tom was an avid swimmer, enjoyed riding his speed bike, reading and taking walks in the outdoors. Tom loved animals of any kind and dogs would naturally gravitate to him. Tom especially enjoyed returning home to be with family for the holidays and never failed to be at home every Memorial Day to help his father trim the bushes and plant the garden flowers. He so enjoyed every moment with his nieces and nephews and attended birthdays, graduations and family vacations when he could. He especially enjoyed time spent in New England with his sister and her spouse, whether it was kayaking in Maine or walking the trails at the Cedar Pond Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Since Tom was a little boy, he could always name the make and the model of the cars on the road. On his second birthday he received his first model car so our parents were already aware of his budding passion. He eventually acquired his father’s old Volkswagen Beetle and kept it alive for many years in Virginia until the yellow lines on the highway showed through the floorboards.

Tom enjoyed exploring Georgetown with friends or spending peaceful hours at the Iwo Jima Memorial. His life changed following an unfortunate accident in 2016 while he was working and his car was hit head-on by a delivery van. The accident led to spinal and heart complications and gradually his mobility declined. Tom eventually had to use a rollator for balance, acquiring a bright purple one and naming it his “Cadillac”. 

Tommy as he was always called by family is survived by three sisters, a sister-in-law and two brother-in-laws: Carol Decker and Kathryn Kramer of West Newbury, MA, Margaret and Thomas Williams of Bluffton, SC, Mary Sue and Timothy Desiato of New Philadelphia, Ohio, Niece's Trina and Chad Wedekind of Jacksonville Fl and great niece Isabella, Lindsay and Will Burgette of Dublin, Ohio and great nephews Colin and Luke and Nephews David Williams of Jacksonville, Florida, and Michael and Lucy Desiato of Dublin, Ohio and great nieces Lena and Stella. In accordance with Tom’s wishes, he will be buried at Calvary Cemetery in Massillon, Ohio.