Irving Decker

Irving Herbert Decker passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at the age of 82. Irving was born on September 22, 1934 and was the only child of Lulu Bean Stevens Decker and the late Irving Frederick Decker, who passed away shortly before his son's birth. He was born and raised in Evanston, Wyoming and graduated from Evanston High School where he was involved in drama. After graduation, he worked for the Wyoming State Hospital before attending college.

In 1955, he attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he graduated in sociology in 1961 with a minor in speech. It was there that he met his future wife, Catherine Louise Lindsey, from Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. They were married August 14, 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They then moved to Los Angeles while Irving continued his education at UCLA where he acted in and directed for the UCLA Community Theater. He also worked as a director and writer for the Motion Picture Division at UCLA with field work at 20th Century Fox and MGM. He later moved to Salt Lake City and attended the University of Utah where he graduated with a Masters degree in social work in 1963. They lived for short time in Evanston, Wyoming where their oldest daughters were born. The family later moved to Modesto, CA where their son and youngest daughter were born and finally settled in Visalia, CA.

Irving was the Supervisor of Psychiatric Social Workers for the Tulare County Mental Health Clinic before he started his own private practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in Marriage and Family Counseling and Hypnosis. He also taught sociology at the College of Sequoias where he was remembered fondly by his students.

He was fascinated by World War II history and memorabilia. He loved to collect hand-painted miniatures and spent countless hours assembling and painting model airplanes. He was also an avid reader and made weekly trips to the library where the patrons knew him by name.

Irving is survived by his four children: daughter, Roselle Schledwitz (South Carolina); daughter, Julie Harris (Wyoming); son, Quentin (Beverly) Decker (California); daughter, Camille (Erik) Slayter (California), seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Catherine Decker, his wife of 59 years.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 5, 2017 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4000 W. Caldwell Ave., Visalia.

Graveside services will be 11:00 AM Friday, May 12, 2017 in Evanston Cemetery in Evanston, Wyoming. Crandall Funeral Home is in charge.