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William A. Decock

William Arnold Decock, 88, of Kittanning, PA, died Wednesday, October 30, 2013, at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital.

He was born April 21, 1925 in Charleroi, PA, the son of Joseph L. and Ollie Virginia (Moyer) Decock.

William graduated from Ford City High School in 1944 and honorably served in the US Army Air Force during World War II. He received his Bachelor's degree in secondary education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and later attended Penn State University, earning his Master's degree in School Administration. For eight years, William worked at Moesta and Sons Clothing Store in Kittanning and for 18 years he taught geography and social studies in the Armstrong School District, teaching at Valley Township School, Kittanning Junior High School and Kittanning High School. Throughout the 70s and 80s, he worked as the supervisor of construction for the school district, and he then went on to fill the positions of building and grounds and school construction supervisor and assistant supervisor of personnel. William dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to the Armstrong School District, retiring in 1987.

He was very involved in many organizations in the community, having memberships at BPO Elks #203 of Kittanning, Masonic Lodge #244 of Kittanning, the Latin American Club of Ford City, and the Worthington American Legion. William was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Kittanning, where he served as chairman of the trustees, and belonged to the National Education Association and the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Organization. William served as vice-chairman and was a member of the Kittanning Planning Commission, and was active chairman when the zoning ordinance was developed for Armstrong County. In his spare time he enjoyed woodworking and had an interest model trains. William collected o-gauge model trains and belonged to the Lionel Operating Trains Society.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his sons, Bruce Arnold Decock, of Campbell, CA, and William Alan Decock and wife, Candy, of Kittanning; daughter, Barbara Ann Huppertz and husband, Paul, of Ellwood City; grandchildren, Christopher Decock and wife, Louise, of Mt. Lebanon, and Drew Zerick and husband, Dan, of Ford City; great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Cassidy Decock and Leo Zerick; and sister, Dorothy Wingard, of Ford City.

William was preceded in death by his parents; loving wife of 53 years, Wilhelmina T. (Woodman) Decock, who died January 1, 1999; brothers, Donald P., Lewis and Eugene Decock; step-sisters, Lea Rodgers and Augustine Gayda; and longtime friend, Margo Raybuck.

Relatives and friends may visit from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Friday, November 1, 2013 at the Bauer Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 515 N. McKean Street, Kittanning.

Additional visitation will be from 10 AM until the time of funeral services at 11 AM on Saturday, November 2, 2013, at the funeral home with the Rev. A. David Meneely officiating.

Entombment will be in Lawn Haven Burial Estates, Worthington, Pennsylvania.

Contributions may be made in William's memory to the First Baptist Church of Kittanning, 334 Arch St., Kittanning, PA 16201 or Kittanning Public Library 280 N. Jefferson St., Kittanning, PA 16201.


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