Carl Spurlin Dekle

Carl Spurlin Dekle (“Spur”), age 100, of Plant City, FL transferred to his heavenly home with Jesus on August 9, 2022. This proud Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps (1940-1945) desired to be remembered for the love of and for his God, love for his family, and love for his country and the great State of Florida. Carl was born to Carl H. and Sallie L. Dekle in a two-story Palatka home at the corner of Hotel Street and River Drive on June 29, 1922. He liked to say he floated out of the Okefenokee Swamp on a cypress log down the St. Johns River and Dad lifted him off in Palatka. He moved with the family at age six to Lakeland and was raised in the home that still stands at 65 Lake Morton Drive. He attended Lake Morton Grammar School where the Lakeland Library now stands. Following his Lakeland High School graduation in 1940, Carl worked three months for the University of Florida. Unable to obtain financial aid for college at UF, he joined the USMC. After boot camp at Paris Island, SC, he was assigned to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he became one of the “Old Breed” as a charter member of the 1st Marine Division placed in a machine gun company. Promoted to Corporal in January of 1942, Carl led a machine gun squad. The regiment shipped out of Norfolk, VA in April of 1942 to the Samoan Islands in the Pacific. On August 7, 1942, the 1st Marine Division took the Guadalcanal airport and held there five months on Edison Ridge (a.k.a “Bloody Ridge”) until January 1943. After regrouping in Australia, he saw action in New Guinea and in December 1943 at Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island. By this time, Sergeant Dekle had oversight for a 75mm anti-tank halftrack. On January 6, 1944, he and his track led in the destruction of a strong Japanese roadblock, for which he was awarded the Silver Star Medal for Gallantry in Action. Following 29 months of service in the Pacific with engagement in nine major battles (some in hand-to-hand combat), Carl received a medical discharge after V.J. Day in 1945. He returned to Lakeland, FL and married. The couple had one daughter and Carl worked six months for IMC in Mulberry. Next, he was employed by Washington Mutual Corp., (now JP Morgan Chase), where he eventually supervised 13 offices. While in the finance business, he served 17 years in the Lakeland Downtown Lions Club, holding each officer position, including president. He was also a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club, a Master Mason of the Lakeland Lodge 256, a charter member of Marine Corps League William Hendricks- Lakeland, and then a charter member of the Heart of Florida Marine Corps League 1107, for which he served as Assistant Commandant, Color Guard Commandant, and Commandant. Carl was also a lifetime member of the Marine Corps League, 1st Marine Division Association, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Carl and his wife Alice were Polk County coordinators for the Marine Corps Reserves “Toys for Tots” campaign in 1999, which required travelling from Plant City seven days a week/twelve hours daily, October through Christmas. The Plant City Church of God member served for years as a greeter and usher. His church family and friends appreciated his “Everything is Beautiful” encouraging words and the military neckties he distributed to attendees. Preceding him in death were his parents, a sister- Lenoir Warren, his first wife of 50 years, Josephine Pepper Dekle and daughter Sheila D. Talcott. Survivors include: wife- Alice McCracken Dekle; son-in-law Thomas A. Talcott; stepdaughters- Linda C. Wakeman and Dorothy M. Shapiro; granddaughter- Shelly N. Grizzle (Shane); grandson- Brendt Dekle Talcott (Monica) and their children Madyson and McKinzie; step-grandson Richard Wakeman; step-granddaughter Christine Wakeman; great-granddaughter Kayla Grizzle; great-grandson Jace Talcott; great-granddaughter Zoe Wakeman; twin great-granddaughters Madillyn and Kaitlynn Wakeman; and niece- Sallie Lenoir Warren. The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 13,2022 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM at Plant City Church of God with a Celebration of Life service at 2:00 PM. Interment with full military honors will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lakeland, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Plant City Church of God for the Carl Dekle Memorial Fund will be appreciated. Online condolences may be left for the family at heathfuneralchapel.com.