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Williamsburg Funeral Home
Williamsburg Funeral Home
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Kenneth Gene Duke
07/12/1941 – 12/28/2015
Clover
Funeral Services
Funeral services will be held at 3 PM Wednesday, December 30, 2015 in the Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with full Military Honors will be in Kingstree Memorial Gardens.
Visitation
The family will greet friends 1 hour prior to the service Wednesday at Williamsburg Funeral Home.
Memorials
Memorials may be made to Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House, PO Box 993,Rock Hill, SC 29731.
On the afternoon of December 28th, Kenneth “Gene” Duke passed away after his battle with Cancer. His loving wife Doris was by his side at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House in Rock Hill SC, Gene was 74 years old.
Gene was born in Kingstree South Carolina on July 12th 1941. He was the first child of Kenneth and Letha Duke.
Gene was a father of three, two sons and one daughter. He was a family man who married his high school sweetheart, Doris, on June 11th, 1961. Gene spent 22 years in the United States Air Force and provided his family with a wonderful adventure living in several states and overseas throughout those years. All of Gene’s children were educated not only in public schools, but in different cultures and geographic areas that proved to prepare them for life’s expectations. Both of Gene’s sons, Bryan and Kevin went on to serve in the military, following in their father’s footsteps. Kevin once said, “My dad is the smartest man I have ever known”, and his friends always said, “If you want something done right, get Gene to do it!”
After 22 years of decorated service in the military, Gene retired and started a new career in education. Gene held three college degrees, an Associate of Arts from The University of Maryland and an Associate and Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of South Carolina. Gene taught high school students for another 20 years before retiring once again. Although Gene and his wife Doris lived in numerous states and overseas, they did settle in Sumter, SC, where they lived for over 25 years before moving to Clover, SC to be close to their loving grandchildren. Gene loved to travel, see new places and new things, so he and Doris bought a motor home and spent a year traveling throughout the United States. They also bought some property in the mountains of Tennessee, where they both enjoy spending time together with what he always said was his second family, their dear friends at TCPC in Tennessee. Gene was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth B. Duke and mother Letha Duke.
Gene is survived by his wife Doris E. Duke; his brother Larry Duke, of Hartsville; his three children; Kenneth B. Duke (Pam), of Wilmington, NC; Kevin Lee Duke (Sandy), of Little River; and Darbie Jan Bufford (Britt), of Clover; his grandchildren; Kelsey Bufford, Garrett Bufford, and Vincent Duke.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 30th from 2 to 3 pm, at Williamsburg Funeral Home, 332 E. Main Street, Kingstree, SC. A memorial service will follow at 3 pm in the Chapel with burial to follow at Kingstree Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House in Rock Hill, SC.
Williamsburg Funeral Home
Kingstree Memorial Gardens
Graveside funeral services will be 11 AM Tuesday, May 27, 2014, in Kingstree Memorial Gardens
Sending much love to Doris and family. I have fond memories of Gene and the fun we had growing up in Kingstree.
Anne Turbeville Heles
Doris, we were so saddened to learn of Gene’s passing and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. What a life he lived and what a legacy he leaves behind. Your and Gene’s activity at TCPC have certainly made it a better place. He will be greatly missed but his influence will last a very long time. Pat and Dee Russell
Dear Doris and loving Family, “Gene Duke was a good man” was Davis’ first comment. Yes, he was: he was someone we could count on to keep his head when others were losing theirs; someone who would say what he meant and mean what he said; a well-respected leader of people; a man who truly loved his wife and his family. He was a real Southern gentleman.
Gene, we will miss you!
What a great loss. Gene worked for me several years fixing tvs at Computer Depot (used to be VCR Cleaning & Repair) in Sumter years ago. He came in twice a week in the evening. I got to spend a lot of time talking with him and he was always such a joy to be around. Doris is a sweet lady as well. I am sorry for your families loss.
Dear Doris and family, Okcha and I are so sorry to hear about Gene. It has been 36 years since we were with him last. I was the Security Police Supervisor at North Charleston AFS and had just been transferred out to Tyndall AFB. N. Charleston AFS was being shut down at that time. We kept in touch for several years until about 2007. I had a heart attack and lost contact with a lot of friends during my recovery. I just wanted to let you know that I learned a lot about the type of person I wanted to be through my association with Gene. He was not only a good friend, but a fantastic role model.
I know he will be greatly missed, but rest assured that he will always be with you in spirit. God Bless you all and give you strength, and wisdom in your lives. Our prayers are with you all.
Thomas B. Ritter, MSGT Ret. USAF