Loren "Larry" D. Decker

Loren Davenport Decker, 83, of Ephrata, known to his family and friends as Larry, passed away on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024, at the WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital. Born in Buffalo, New York, Larry was the son of the late Stewart M. Decker Jr. and Laura E. (Davenport) Decker, and the loving husband of Joan E. (Malone) Decker for 37 years.

Larry was a graduate of Hagerstown High School, graduating class of 1958, and a 1961 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Business Administration and Accounting. It was there that Larry met and married his college sweetheart, Diane. Larry’s career took him and Diane on multiple adventures, eventually settling in Sayreville, NJ, to raise their three children.

Larry worked as an accountant and computer programmer for several multinational corporations, retiring in 1985 as Vice President of Consco Enterprises Inc., a financial software development company with headquarters in New York city. Larry met Joan at Consco in 1976. They married in 1987. Larry and Joan lived in Sparta, NJ for several years before moving to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where they lived for 18 years. In 2014 they moved to Ephrata PA to be closer to family.

Larry was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Lancaster. He was a devoted Penn State football fan. He enjoyed taking cruises and playing golf with Joan and visits from the children and grandchildren. Larry was known for his friendly, outgoing personality that was very kind and complimentary, making others feel welcomed. His heart, humor, and silly puns will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

In addition to his wife Joan, Larry is survived by a son, Jeffrey A. Decker (Nancy Benson) of Rochester, MN; two stepchildren, Christine Cowan Felger (Wayne) of Newport, PA, James Thomas Cowan (Patricia) of Bloomfield, NJ; six grandchildren Sarah, Matthew, Brian, James, Michael, and Emerald; two great grandchildren, Elaine and Harvey; and former spouse and friend, Diane Alice McCreery (William Etnoyer). Larry was predeceased by two children, Casey Flynn Decker and Douglas Alan Decker; and a sister, Martha (Pat) Atherton.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are appreciated to the Ephrata Community Ambulance Service, www.ephrataambulance.org; Lincoln Fire Company, www.lincolnfireco.com; WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital, www.wellspan.org/About-WellSpan/Donate, or St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Saint Thomas Episcopal Church (stthomaslancaster.org).

www.siplerfuneralhome.com