Dekker, Henry J.

Henry Dekker (originally, Henry Theodore John Dekker) of Blacksburg, 90, passed away on Monday, June 13, 2011. Henry Dekker was born in 1920, in Norfolk, Va., to John Peter and Frieda Tiedemann Dekker. The family lived in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. He graduated from Oceana High School in 1937. He attended the Norfolk Division of William and Mary for one year and then Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
Dekker was a member of the Virginia Tech Class of 1944 but graduated in June 1947 from the Pamplin College of Business with a degree in Advanced Accounting after three years of military service during World War II in the 11th Airborne Division.
Dekker’s military service as an officer took him to the Philippines, Okinawa and Japan (Occupation).
While at Virginia Tech, Dekker served in the Corps of Cadets from September 1940 until March 1943 Army Service in the Accelerated Program of Year Round classes. He was elected President of his class( 1944), for each of three years and was elected president of the Corps of Cadets in January 1943. He also served as Vice-President of the German Club (1942 to 1943) and President in 1946 and 1947. He was elected to Omicron Delta Kappa, the Leadership Society, in 1942 and was active in Student Government. Dekker served as Treasurer of V.P.I. for two years before joining Burlington Industries as Assistant Treasurer.
He moved to New York into sales with Burlington, then Deering Milliken, followed by Hoechst Fibers, Texfi Industries and Louis Feraud, Inc. for the United States and Canada as President. His 36 year career gave him considerable international experience in Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong and Japan. He retired as Chairman of Louis Feraud in 1992.
The Dekkers moved back to Blacksburg, Va., in 1980 but Henry continued to commute via air to New York City for 11 years. Dekker was married to Louisa Kent Otey Hoge Gillet. They had three children, Louisa Kent, Alice Hoge and Peyton Gillet. They have five grandchildren, Eric Richardson, Alex Richardson, Ashley Dekker, Henry Dekker III, and Peyton Dekker. Tragically, their eldest daughter, Louisa Kent, died on February 27, 2007, and Dekker’s wife of 57 years, Mrs. Louisa Gillet Dekker, died on May 3, 2007.
Dekker’s passion were the Virginia Tech German Club, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Pamplin College at Virginia Tech as well as Virginia Tech as a whole. He assisted Charles O. Gordon Sr. (1942), in the Campaign for the Second Century of the German Club. He was one of the leaders of the campaign for the revitalization of the Corps of Cadets from 1992 to 2002. He worked with the Development Director and Dean of The Pamplin College of Business in this campaign.
He served on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors from 1989 to 1997. He was Chair of their Finance and Audit Committee for six years, Vice-Rector for five years and Rector for his last year. In April 1999, Dekker was named the recipient of the William Henry Ruffner Medal, the university’s highest honor for dedicated and distinguished service. He was a Senior Benefactor of the Ut Prosim Society, a member of the Legacy Society and the William Preston Society (former Board member).
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations to the German Club of Virginia Tech, The Corps of Cadets of Virginia Tech, The Pamplin College of Business, or Virginia Tech in honor of the life and service of Henry Dekker be considered.
Memorial Services will be conducted at the War Memorial Chapel on the Campus of Virginia Tech at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 14, 2011, followed by a reception for guests at the German Club Manor.