SANDUSKY COUNTY OHIO - OBIT: DECKER, Etta SPAYDE (d. 1932) *************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Leah Larson LeahJL@aol.com August 4, 1998 *************************************************************************** The woman, Etta Spayde Decker, was a daughter of Samuel Spayde (one of the other obits. I sent you). She was the older sister of Oscar Armstrong Spayde, my great-grandfather. I'm not sure of the actual day of these obits., but the deaths occurred in March 1932. I found them in a letter the daughter had sent to my grandmother. The letter also contained bits of the material used for Etta's burial dress. Leah ********************** Decker Obituaries March 1932 E. Decker Died Very Suddenly "Death of Esteemed Resident the Third in the Family Within a Week" This unexpected death of A. E. Decker, 78, well known and respected carpenter contractor, Wednesday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. F. E. Ambrose, 119 north Prospect, shortly before 6 o’clock marked the third death in the family within a week. Mr. Decker was taken suddenly violently ill at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning some hours after he had retired apparently in his usual health. He suffered from an acute attack of indigestion. Through every effort was made to administer relief his condition grew worse until death ensued. On Monday Mr. Decker had attended the funeral services of his only sister, Mrs. Callie Miller, 82, of Old Fort, who died on Friday last. On the day of the sister’s death the funeral of Mrs. Sevilla Ambrose of Old Fort, mother of F. E. Ambrose, Mr. Decker’s son-in-law was held. Mrs. Ambrose died on Tuesday. The death of Mr. Decker came as a severe shock to the family and to the wife who has been an invalid the past two years at the Ambrose home dependent upon the constant attention of the husband, daughter, and others. Funeral arrangements had not been completed Wednesday and will be announced later though it was expected that the services would be arranged for Friday afternoon. Surviving are the invalid wife, one daughter, Mrs. F. E. Ambrose, one son Raymond Decker, of Lorain, one brother, Burelton Decker of Old Fort, four grand children, Cyril Ambrose, Fremont, Mrs. J. P. Turner of Detroit, Misses Morlene and Ruth Decker, of Lorain, and one great grand daughter, Pauline Ambrose, Fremont. The son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Decker, Mr. Decker was born in Ballville township Nov. 21, 1853. He attended the district schools and at an early age took up the carpenter’s trade which he followed until ten years ago as a carpenter and later as a contractor. In recent years he had been engaged in the installation of weather stripping. His marriage to Miss Etta Spayde occurred Nov. 27, 1873 and following the wedding the couple made their home at Hoovers Corners in Ballville, moving later to Old Fort where they spent a number of years. Since 1910 he had resided in Fremont moving here from Vermillion where the family had lived ten years previously. Mr. Decker was a member of the East Side Presbyterian church. The body was removed to the Eagon mortuary to be prepared for burial and will be returned to the Ambrose home Thursday morning. ******************** "Death of Husband Hastens Wife's End" Mrs. A. E. Decker, Long and Invalid, Died Monday; Fourth Death in Family Circle Recently The fourth death in one family circle all within fifteen days, with death claiming husband and wife for the last two victims, occurred Monday morning when Mrs. Etta B. Decker, 77, esteemed and respected woman and mother of Mrs. F. E. Ambrose, died at the home of the daughter, 119 north Prospect street, following a long illness. Her husband, A. E. Decker, died unexpectedly last Wednesday at the daughter’s home following a brief illness and his death proved too great a shock to the wife who had been a helpless invalid nearly two years. Prior to the death of Mr. Decker, his sister, Mrs. Callie Miller, 82, of Old Fort, died on Friday, March 25 just a few minutes after the funeral services for Mrs. Sevilla Ambrose, of Old Fort, mother of Mr. Ambrose. Mrs. Ambrose died on March 22. The death of Mrs. Decker came as a relief after a long period of invalidism. In June, 1930, Mrs. Decker fell at the home of the daughter with whom she lived and from that time until her death she had been entirely helpless, not being able to lift a hand. She had been in ill health for many years previous to the fall. Paralysis and complications were the cause of the death. The funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 from the residence with Rev. J. R. Walter, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating. The same pallbearers who served at the funeral services of the husband, will be requested to serve at the rites for the wife, and the other arrangements are also similar to those for the husband. The body was removed to the Eagon mortuary to be prepared for burial and will be returned to the home late Monday. Surviving are the one daughter, Mrs. Ambrose, one son, R. W. Decker, of Lorain; one sister, Mrs. W. R. Gilson, of Elyria; four grandchildren, Cyril Ambrose, of Fremont; Mrs. James Turner, of Detroit; Misses Maureen and Ruth Virginia Decker, of Lorain, and one great-granddaughter, Pauline Ambrose, of Fremont. Mrs. Decker was the daughter of Samuel Lee and Elizabeth Spayde, early prominent residents of Ballville Twp., whose farm included the present site of Oakwood cemetery and much of the adjoining land. There she was born, May 12, 1854. Her marriage to A. E. Decker was solemnized Nov. 27, 1873 in Fremont. They resided at Hoovers Corners, Ballville township and later in Old Fort. In 1910 the located in Fremont after spending the ten years previous in Vermillion where they had moved from Old Fort. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church and attended services regularly until ill health prevented. ******************** FUNERAL Funeral rites held Wednesday afternoon for Mrs. Etta B. Decker, 77, were identical with services last Friday for the husband A. E. Decker, who preceded his wife in death by less than a week. The services were held from the home of the daughter, Mrs. F. E. Ambrose, 119 North Prospect, Rev. J. R. Walter, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiated and with two exceptions the same pallbearers served. The pallbearers were George Berger, Fred Bowers, Otto Keller, and Henry Peters, who also served at the husband’s funeral and George Whiddon and P. M. Truman, Sr. Burial was made in Oakwood cemetery beside the remains of the husband. There were many floral tributes. Among the out of town relatives and friends present were Mr. and Mrs. Homer Smith of Cleveland, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Squires and Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Dunn of Elyria, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Decker and daughters Maureen and Ruth Virginia of Lorain, Mrs. J. C. Turner of Clyde, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Beck of Green Springs, Mr. and Mrs. James Turner of Detroit and Miss Bernice Bowersox of Attica, as well as numerous others from Old Fort where Mrs. Decker formerly resided.