Cliff Earl Decker, Jr

Cliff Decker, 83, of Durham, North Carolina died at home of pancreatic cancer on February 11, 2025. Born July 20, 1941, in Valdese, North Carolina, he was the son of Clifford Earl Decker, Sr and Uda Vashti Phillips Decker.

Cliff graduated from UNC with a BA degree in Chemistry and an MS in Public Health. He served in the United States Public Health Service, then began work as an environmental scientist, specializing in air pollution and industrial hygiene at RTI. His career of 37 years at RTI led to attaining the title of director of the Center of Environmental Measurement and Quality Assurance.

He married his first love Betty Deene Hower in 1964. They had two children, Elizabeth Phillips Decker Glockzin (Tom) and Thomas Clifford Decker (Rachel). In 1998 Betty passed away suddenly. In 2000, he met his second love Alice Ragland Thomas. She had two daughters Brantley Paige Blackwood (Jeff) and Ashley Brooke Thomas. Collectively they have one son, Tom, three daughters, Elizabeth, Brantley and Ashley, and six grandchildren, Virginia Glockzin Johnson (Brandon), Victoria Glockzin, James Decker, Michael Decker, Lainey Blackwood and Kirbey Blackwood. Also survived by a brother Sam Decker and close cousin Blenda Morris. Cliff loved and enjoyed all his children and grandchildren and was especially loved for his sense of humor and teasing. 

A member of Triangle Grace Church, previously known as Triangle Presbyterian Church for almost 50 years, he served faithfully as an Elder of the church and a member of various church committees. Along with Cliff’s family, work, friends, and church, the other most important aspect of his life was the years of volunteer and part-time employment as part of the UNC Athletic Event Staff. He spent almost 50 years assisting in various positions at Kenan Stadium for football events,36 years managing the visitors tunnel at the Dean Smith Center for men’s basketball and 13 years assisting in baseball. He treasured the friends he made through the UNC athletic events.

There will be a Celebration of Life service at 11:00 am, Friday, February 28, 2025, at Triangle Grace Church, 5001 Tudor Place, Durham, NC. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Samaritans Purse for victims of hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. 

Cliff’s family is especially grateful for the professionalism and thoughtful care of UNC Hospice.

Arrangements for the Decker family are being handled by Walker Funeral Home in Hillsborough, NC.