Obituary of John Charles Deck

John Charles Deck died on June 10, 2011 at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Born on November 14, 1927, in Philadelphia, PA where he attended Frankford High School.

John attended Penn State University where he boxed and played Lacrosse. He graduated from Penn State in 1949 with a civil engineering degree which he put to use working abroad in Indonesia, Iran, India and Saudi Arabia for twenty three years of his career. He was a veteran of two wars – World War II, the Korean War, serving with the Marines. During the Viet Nam war, he served as a GS15 Government employed Civil Engineer.

John was an avid tennis player, and enjoyed boxing, skiing, swimming and reading. He also enjoyed the theater, not only as a spectator, but as an actor as well.

He is predeceased by his parents, his first wife Marion Smith Deck; as well as his sister, Dorothy.

John is survived by his wife, the lovely Donna (Palm) Goss, whom he met at a singles’ night staged at the IGA grocery store she owned in State College. They would have celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary on June 29, 2011.

In addition to his wife, John leaves behind two sons – Tenzing Deck and his wife, Neha and Christopher Deck and his wife, Kathy, five grandchildren – Devan, Kiran, Eleni, Christopher, and Charles as well as 6 great grandchildren, Davin, Kaylee, Victoria, Austin, Blake, and Logan.

Friends will be received from 9:30 to 11:00 Tuesday, June 14, 2011; at the Community Room at the Oaks, 200 Rachel Drive, Pleasant Gap. The funeral will follow immediately at 11:00 a. m. in the community room with the Reverend Kevin Shock officiating. A graveside committal service will be held at the convenience of the family at Centre County Memorial Park, 1032 Benner Pike, State College, PA.

Contributions in Mr. Deck’s memory may be made to Doctors Without Borders, 333 7th Ave. 2nd Floor, NY, NY 10001-5004 or on line at www.doctorswithoutborders.org.