Obituary - Frank Joseph Deckert III

Frank Joseph Deckert III of Richmond, VA passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 11, 2025, surrounded by family.

Frank was born in July of 1944 in Fresno, California, to Frank Deckert Jr. and Jeannette Vedder Deckert. Frank attended Fresno State and then Humboldt State College, earning a degree in forestry. After working for the U.S. Forest Service during college, he attended the Albright training center at the Grand Canyon to prepare for a career with the National Park Service (NPS). His first NPS assignment was Shenandoah National Park, where he met the love of his life, Gloria Quick of Waynesboro, VA. They were married in June of 1969 and were blessed with three children, each born in a different National Park Service Area: Christopher Deckert in Waynesboro, Virginia (near Shenandoah National Park), Jason Deckert in Houghton, Michigan (near Frank’s assignment at Isle Royale National Park), and Alisa Deckert Feliciano in Boulder City, Nevada (near Frank’s assignment at Lake Mead National Recreation Area). Frank went on to serve as the Chief Naturalist at Big Bend National Park, Texas, and later worked in the National Park Regional Office in Anchorage, Alaska. His leadership roles continued as Superintendent of Petersburg National Battlefield, VA, Superintendent of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM, and he finally retired in 2003 as Superintendent of Big Bend National Park, completing a 36-year career in the National Park Service. Frank shared at his retirement, “I have been blessed with a dream career. I have worked in some of the most beautiful and inspiring places in our country with the most dedicated people anywhere.”

Frank and Gloria retired in Middlebrook, VA, where they created a wonderful gathering place called “Heartwood” for their grandkids and family. They later moved to Glen Allen, VA, and finally to Avery Point in Richmond, VA.

Frank was an avid outdoorsman who deeply loved nature. He took the family on many adventures, including hiking, camping, canoeing, and fishing. He was a skilled writer, best known for his yearly Christmas poem, and he wrote many other poems and short stories. While Chief Naturalist at Big Bend National Park, he authored the book Three Steps to the Sky about the park and contributed a chapter on Big Bend to the Sierra Club Guide to the National Parks. He was a respected Rotarian and served as President of the Carlsbad, NM chapter. As a Scout Master for the Boy Scouts in Colonial Heights, VA, he positively impacted the lives of many young men. He was also active in the United Methodist Church. While working as the Chief Naturalist in Big Bend in the 1970s, he discovered a new species of dinosaur, which was named in his honor: Malefica Deckerti. In their retirement years, Frank and Gloria were active members of multiple ukulele groups.

Frank often shared that his greatest accomplishment was his family, who fondly remember his love, humor, and laughter. Many people have expressed their love for Frank because he lived out the command of John 13:34-35, where Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Frank embodied this command at home, at work, and in the community.

Frank’s health journey can be found on Caringbridge.org.

Frank is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gloria Deckert; his three children and their spouses, Chris Deckert (Kristin) of Orlando, FL, Jason Deckert (Jenni) of Chester, VA, and Alisa Deckert Feliciano (Mo) of Glen Allen, VA. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren, Caleb Deckert, Joshua Deckert, Nathan Deckert, Chloe Deckert, Isaac Feliciano, Conner Deckert, Selah Feliciano, Lexi Deckert, and Kelsey Deckert.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Jeannette Vedder; and his siblings, Harry Deckert, Jane Ryan, and Marianna Gaudaur.

Gloria can be contacted at 11000 Tustin Ridge Lane, Apt 418, Richmond, VA 23233.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 9155 Hungary Rd, Henrico, VA 23294 (804) 270-7613.  A reception will follow.

Memorials or donations may be made to National Park Conservation Assoc. NPCA 777 6th St. NW Suite 700 Washington DC 2001 npca.orgSupport.npca.org or to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation, Inc Toll-Free Helpline 1-800-659-991help@cjdfoundation.org 3634 W. Market Street, Suite 110 Akron, OH 44333 cjdfoundation.org/donate.