Howard Richard Deck was born on November 29, 1937. His parents were Walter Vernon Deck and Gertrude Stewart Deck in McEwen, Tennessee. Howard was voted Mister McEwen High in his senior year. He attended George Peabody College and Vanderbilt University where he was voted Mr. Peabody in his senior year. This is where he met Sonja Elizabeth Horton in her Freshman year. They were married on June 2, 1961, and had two sons – Howard Richard Deck, Jr. and Mitchell Bradford Deck. Their six grandchildren are Ashley Deck Tyson, Trevor Deck, Rachel Deck, Logan Deck, Celeste Deck, and Evan Deck. He has one great-grandchild, Raya Tyson.
Howard joined the US Army in October, 1961 in the Medical Service branch. He quickly attended flight school and became a Dust Off pilot (medical evacuation) where he spent three years in Vietnam. Some of his tours were Fort Sam Houston San Antonio, Fort Bragg NC, Fort Ord CA, and Germany.
During his military service, he attended Oklahoma University and received his Master’s degree in Political Science.
He and his wife of 63 years retired in San Antonio and were in partnership with a company A&E Color Graphics for nine years. They both retired and he was a great golfer from then until health problems began. Sonja was his caregiver for over six years, and they lived at the Army Residence Community for eight years.
He is preceded in death by his brothers, Walt Deck, Horace Deck, Wilbur Deck, and James Deck. He is survived by his beloved wife, Sonja Deck; sons, Howard Richard Deck, Jr. and Mitchell Bradford Deck; sisters, Norma Catlet of Virginia Beach, VA and Frances Montoya of McEwen, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Delores Deck of McEwen, Tennessee; nephews, Leon Deck, Timothy Deck, & Rocky Montoya; niece, Donna Lewis of Holbrook, Arizona.
The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 23, 2024, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.
Funeral Service
Friday, August 23, 2024 11:30 AM
Porter Loring Mortuary North
2102 North Loop 1604 East
Mr. Casey Tyson will officiate. Interment with full military honors will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project.