James Decker Kennington

Services for James Decker Kennington, 88, of Tyler, will be held Friday, April 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Rev. Pike Wisner officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services. Decker was born January 16, 1937, the ninth child out of nine, left this earth on March 25, 2025, on his way to visit with family and friends and to see Jesus. Decker was the son of J.F. and Louise Kennington of New Boston, Texas. His parents and all his siblings are now deceased. He had three brothers: Richard, Bill, and Carroll, and five sisters: Sophia Pace, Carrie Faye Williams, Velma Hitchcock, Hazel McCright, and Marie Robertson. Decker grew up on a farm near New Boston, Texas. He graduated from New Boston High School in 1955, having played football and basketball in high school. He attended Texarkana Jr. College on a basketball scholarship, and then transferred to North Texas State College from which he graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration. He served in the US Army from 1959-1961. He was assigned to a position in cryptography, but managed to also play on a basketball team while stationed in Germany. On January 26, 1963, Decker married Linda Prange. They moved to Tyler, where he worked briefly as an accountant for Hunt Oil Company. He began work for The Procter and Gamble Company in Sales /Management. He made many friends and enjoyed the camaraderie of sales representatives in Tyler. Decker enjoyed playing golf, attending sporting events, coaching basketball for David’s YMCA team, as well as coaching Bradley’s T-Ball team. He loved attending Sunday School and Church Services at First Baptist Tyler, where he faithfully served as a deacon. He worked many years in youth Sunday Schools. He and Linda did team teaching with college students for ten years. He was a faithful volunteer for Meals on Wheels for 30 years. He was looking forward to volunteering until he was 90. Decker is survived by his loving wife, Linda, son David Kennington and wife Korree, grandsons Collin Kennington and Cooper Kennington of Nashville, TN, and Bradley Kennington of Austin, TX. Also surviving are many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Honorary Pallbearers are Jerry Craig, Titus Jones, John Rolling, Jim Hartung, Jimmy Rex, Mark Magee, John Minton, Larry Corley, Dick Barnett, Mike Hendricks, David Couch, Travis Hunt, Jeff Martin, Gene Caldwell, Jack Adrian, Tracy Crawford, and John Haynes. In honor of Decker, please consider donating to Meals on Wheels in his name. https://www.mealsonwheelsetx.org/ways-to-give/

James Decker Kennington

January 16, 1937 - March 21, 2025