On July 4, 1944, Don and Virginia Decker (neé Beck) found love during a time of war. Seventy years later, their love story continues in Massapequa, encompassing rough times in World War II, exciting career and travel opportunities, and an impressive extended family of 43 members.
“We met in 1940 at a luncheonette called Haskells in Brooklyn on Avenue U,” said Virginia, who was only 15 at the time she met Don. “He was at my 16th birthday party, but at the time we were just friends.”
Don, Virginia, and their circle of friends all lived in same neighborhood in Brooklyn, so chance encounters
“I kept coming back,” laughed Don, who always thought Virginia was pretty.
His future wife, on the other hand, did not take to Don romantically right away.
“I thought he was kind, very skinny and slight, but we were just friends,” she said.
“When I was 17, I got a car,” said Don, joking that it was the car that piqued Virginia’s interest in him.
After two years of dating, Don and Virginia decided to get married. Although there was no actual proposal, an 18-year-old Virginia recalls going with her new fiancé to pick out a ring.
to see each other were always possible.
“It was just assumed that we were going to get married. It wasn’t like it is today,” she said.
The newly engaged couple soon felt the pangs of war, as Don enlisted in the Navy. He came home on leave the day before their wedding, meeting his soon-to-be bride at the train station.
“We went straight to the tailor and had Don’s dress blues made for the wedding,” said Virginia. “They made the whole outfit in a day.”
On a sunny day in July, Don and Virginia were married at The Good Shepherd Church in Brooklyn, and nerves and jitters were nowhere to be found.
“We didn’t know enough to be nervous,” said Virginia, who looked like the quintessential bride on the day.
“My Aunt Mae was the head seamstress for Bergdorf Goodman and she made the dress for me,” said Virginia of her flowing, floor length, white tulle creation. The dress had three quarter sleeves and an elegant ruffle displayed across her collarbone. The bride’s veil was accented by a diamond headpiece. While beautiful, the look was pulled together at the very last minute.
“The dress was finished and sewn on my back the day of the wedding!” said Virginia. She has since handed down the dress, which has seen two more weddings; the celebrations of two of her daughters.
The wedding reception was in Virginia’s mother’s house in Brooklyn. Guests were served a chicken dinner as the record “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” played in the background. The couple received $60 on their wedding day among other nice gifts.
Although getting married at such a difficult time in America was at sometimes a struggle, the Deckers always remained in high spirits.
“It was rough financially, but we knew how to throw a good party,” said Don.
“We chose July 4th because it was during the war and everyone had to work on Saturdays and Sundays you couldn’t have a mass,” said Virginia. “That’s what it was like to get married during a World War.”
The couple honeymooned in Atlantic City for four days. Soon after, Virginia accompanied Don to Iowa for three months while he returned to the service. Her time there was met with new friends and plenty of fun.
“We would go to dances and bars and just have parties every night,” said Virginia.
When Don received transfer orders, the newlyweds decided it was best that Virginia return home to stay with her mother.
“I still have his letters from when he was away during the war and they are all addressed “To my Lambie pie,” said Virginia of her love letters from Don.
Months later, the best present of all awaited both Don and Virginia upon walking through the front door.
“I was discharged from the Navy and came home on Christmas Eve,” said Don. It was the first time he had seen his daughter Ginny, who was six months old at the time.
“I remember coming down the stairs with Ginny in my arms, seeing him in the doorway and I just cried,” said Virginia.
With the war behind them, the Deckers began to build a family. They purchased their first home in Brooklyn, up the street from where Virginia grew up. Don and Virginia then made several more moves to Levittown, Queens, and then to Massapequa with their seven children where they have been residing for the past forty years.
“I was a housewife and then worked for OTB for 18 years,” said Virginia.
Respectively, Don started out in the Navy for 20 years, before working another 20 years in the transit authority. He then went to Fire Island to work as an independent for 26 years, until he finally got tired and stopped working, but was more than happy to provide for his growing family.
“We always had a big family and we were always close, we did everything together,” said Don.
From spending all day picnicking at the beach to going down to Rockaway and watching the fireworks at night on the boardwalk, the Deckers made a point of spending as much time together with their family as possible.
“We traveled a lot up until a few years ago, and we enjoyed all of the vacations,” said Don. “We loved to go to the pubs and listen to Irish music.”
“We went to Hawaii six times, and Ireland five times, but Hawaii has always been my favorite,” said Virginia.
The Deckers have been kept busy by their 18 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
“They’re all really, really great kids,” added Don, who is ever the doting and bragging grandfather. The Deckers credit their family for their good health, continual love and long marriage.
“What’s our secret to being married for 70 years? We didn’t die!” laughed Virginia.
“It’s true. Being surrounded by so much family, they keep us young and in good health,” said Don. They are fortunate to see their family and very large extended family all of the time, as most of them live close by.
In sharing a piece of wisdom for a long and prosperous marriage, both Don and Virginia agree that the key is to go places and do things, and to always stay busy.
“The hardest thing about marriage was having enough money when we were raising seven children,” said Don. “But we took it in stride and accepted it.”
The easiest, according to Virginia was being romantically secure.
“Not having to worry when your next date was going to be, that’s the easiest,” she said. “I knew Don was the one when he insisted. Having someone there next to you to do everything with, that’s the best part.”
With a love that has spanned seven decades, Don and Virginia Decker continue to write their story, with the help of cherished memories and their large, loving family.
The Deckers are surrounded by love from their seven children; Virginia “Ginny,” 69, Donald, (passed at 51), Helen, 66, Michael, 64, Kathy, 59, Mary Lou 58, and Patricia, 56; 18 grandchildren: John, Keith, Katie, Donny, Brian, Marybeth, Kristin, Eileen, Patrick, John, Timothy, Kathleen, Michael, Greg, Jimmy, Eileen, Julie and Jackie, and 25 great-grandchildren: Seth, Matthew, Sara, John, James, Jake, Jack, Sammy, Vivian, Mary Elizabeth, Jack, Cailyn, Alaina, Brendan, Michael, Braedan, Brynn, Meghan, Leah, Jack, John, Sean, Ryan, Rose and Luke. The oldest grandchild is 44 and the youngest is 19. The oldest great grandchild is 22 and the youngest is 7 months.
