Wilma Quay (Peggy) Vines




Wilma Quay (Peggy) Vines, 75, of Fernandina Beach, passed away at her home on March 12, 2007, after an extended battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease."

Born on Jan. 6, 1932, in Oxford, Miss., the former Peggy Walker graduated from University High School and attended the University of Mississippi, where she studied Psychology and Business. Her marriage to a career military officer led to moves across the country, including Ft. Bragg, N.C.; Ft. Rucker, Ala; Anchorage, Alaska; Memphis, Tenn.; Ft. Monroe, Va.; Ft. Jackson, S.C.; Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.; Newport, R.I.; and Washington, D.C. After settling in the Washington, D.C., area, she worked as a Personnel Management Specialist for the Department of the Army and retired as a GS-12.

Upon retirement, Mrs. Vines and her husband relocated to Amelia Island 18 years ago, where she enjoyed her leisure time gardening, traveling, reading, golf outings and visiting with family and friends.

Peggy is survived by her husband of 52 years, Col. (Ret.) Ronald C. "Pete" Vines; three children and their spouses, Rebecca (Charles) Jenkins of Greer, S.C., Ronald C. (Jacklyn) Vines Jr. of Corona del Mar, Calif., and Jeffrey A. (Theresa) Vines of Woodbridge, Va.; five granddaughters, Dawn Jenkins, Lauren Jenkins, Charlotte Jenkins, Morgan Vines and Jessica Vines; siblings Dean Walker, Ken Walker and Genendle Parker, all of Oxford, Miss., and Jimmy Walker of Montgomery, Texas; a niece, Pamela Malone of Richardson, Texas, and two step-grandchildren and eight step-great-grandchildren of Newport Beach, Calif.

Mrs. Vines was a loving wife, mother, sister and friend who touched the lives of so many and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was a truly wonderful lady of the oldest traditions and about whom an unkind word was never spoken. May she now rest in peace.

The family will receive friends between 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Oxley-Heard Funeral Home. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the ALS Association, 3242 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa, FL 33619-0907.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
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Decter, Andrew Scott

DECTER Andrew Scott Decter Owned insurance group and brokerage company, 47 Active in fund-raising and research to fight ALS Andrew Scott Decter, 47, died March 7, 2007, after a 5- year battle with ALS, Lou Gehrigs Disease. Arrangements were by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, Livingston. A longtime resident of West Orange and Livingston, Andrew was a 1980 graduate of Livingston High School and George Washington University in 1984. Andrew and his late father, Philip, owned the Decter Insurance Group and Private Brokerage of Livingston. After being diagnosed in 2001, Andy became a tireless searcher for the latest, cutting edge treatments for this disease, taking him to doctors from Harvard, the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins and Beijing, China, where he received stem cell treatment. His involvement with the ALS Association of Greater N.Y. enabled him to turn a fatal diagnosis into an activist role. Andy and his parents created a fundraising golf tournament at the Green Brook Country Club to raise money for the ALS Association of Greater N.Y. From there, they, along with family friends, helped to establish the South Florida Research Foundation, which has as of March 5, 2007, held their fifth golf tournament fundraiser, raising in excess of $600,000 for Project ALS, whose sole purpose involves funding research for a cure for this disease. Andys credo was always to take lifes challenges, whatever they may be and meet them head on with courage and conviction. He was a wonderful and loving father, son, brother and friend. Andy is survived by his children, Jessica, Alex and Amanda; his mother, Alice Decter; his sister, Lori Yaspan; his uncle, Stephen Decter; his nephew, Corey Yaspan, and his brother-in-law, Richard Yaspan. He was the son of the late Philip Decter. Contributions may be made in Andys memory to the ALS Association, 116 John St., Suite 1304, New York, N.Y. 10038.
Published in the Star-Ledger on 3/11/2007.