Helen Lindley Decker

Helen Lindley Decker, 89, passed away September 14, 2014 at the Laurels of Hendersonville.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky on April 30, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Walter Isaac Lindley and Dulcie Denton Lindley. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her brother, Walter Lindley, Jr.

Helen and her beloved husband, Robert Lee Decker, celebrated 70 years of marriage on August 14, 2014. Their wedding in 1944 took place shortly before his departure to France where he and the 381st Artillery Battalion participated in the Roer and Rhine River crossings as well as the march across Germany to the Elbe River. While Robert (Bob) was overseas, Helen worked in a paint laboratory. When he returned to the U.S. in January 1946, the couple continued their interrupted education at the University of Louisville. In June 1949, they graduated, Helen with a B.A. in Home Economics and Bob with a Mechanical Engineering degree.

After graduation, Bob and Helen moved to Lewistown, Montana where their first child, Debbie, was born. In 1952, the Deckers moved to Park Forest, Illinois and had two more daughters, Anne and Patti. Helen, Bob and their children participated in many church, school and civic activities. Helen served as a 4-H leader for fifteen years and was a member of two boards in Cook County, IL. She and her family were also very involved at Faith United Protestant Church in Park Forest. For ten years, Helen and Bob coordinated the churchís annual living Nativity Scene, a two-hour production on each of the six nights before Christmas, while their daughters participated as shepherd girls and angels. For five years, Helen and Bob also served as Communion Stewards at the church. In addition, Helen was involved with P.T.A., A.A.U.W. (American Association of University Women) and D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution), holding offices in each organization.

Helenís hobbies included gardening, sewing and later, genealogy (in her words ìthe most fun of allî). She loved to read and to write letters, keeping in touch with many friends. Traveling was also a very important part of Helenís life. Beginning with ìshoe-stringî tent-camping vacations when the girls were small, over the years Helen and Bob toured all 50 states and traveled widely in Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and China, visiting a total of 60 countries.

Helen and Bob moved to Hendersonville, NC in 1988, living first on Long John Mountain and since 2005, in Lake Pointe Landing. Soon after their arrival in North Carolina, she and Bob became members of the First United Methodist Church. In both church and community, they found many new friends and many more opportunities to serve, such as Helenís role as Long Johnís ìSunshine Lady,î sending thoughtful cards and notes to neighbors in need of encouragement. Helen loved living in such a beautiful part of the world and found great happiness there.

Survivors include Helenís husband, Bob; her daughters, Debbie Decker and Patti Sorensen (Kjeld) of Indianapolis, IN, and Anne Pellegrino (Anthony) of Highland Park, IL; her grandchildren, Rachel Gilpin of Bakersfield, CA, Michael Sorensen and Kimberly Megli (Kevin) of Indianapolis, IN; and her great-granddaughter, Addison Jane Megli of Indianapolis, IN.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church, 204 6th Ave W., Hendersonville.