Cecil Howard Timberlake Jr., 80, of Decatur, Alabama , passed away peacefully on Monday,
August 29, 2016 while in hospice care near family in Texas.
Cecil was a native of Decatur, born on Cherry Street in 1936. He was active in Boy Scout Troop
19, and received his Eagle Scout rank in 1950. He was involved in the local Civil Air Patrol, and
played trumpet with the concert band at Decatur High School. His mother, Evelyn Timberlake,
taught at the school for many years.
In 1954 he entered service in the United States Air Force, including a tour of duty overseas.
Cecil attended Auburn University and graduated in 1961 with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
He began work at Chemstrand, and continued in a successful career path that included various
positions in engineering and management at Chemstrand, Monsanto and Phillips
Petroleum. He was influential with work in the US Congress during the 1970s and 1980s. Cecil
retired from Phillips Petroleum in 1993. Upon entering retirement, he attended Clemson
University and learned to raise cattle, tending to a 33 acre farm in South Carolina. He moved
back to Decatur in 1997.
Cecil enjoyed reading, good food, travel, music, watching football, and hobby work with
computers. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Carolyn, son William and his wife Andreea,
son Kyle and his wife Lynn, brother Sam and his wife Mary, grandson Liam, and many loving
cousins and relatives.
A graveside service will be held at the Decatur City Cemetery on October 08, 2016 at
11am. The Reverend Charles Boling will be officiating.
