Mr. John Duke, Jr. Obituary

Mr. John Henderson Duke, Jr. 83, of Albany died, Sunday, October 16, 2011 at his residence. Mr. Duke requested his body be donated for science therefore it has been sent to the Medical College of Georgia. A memorial will be held 10 AM Wednesday at Kimbrell-Stern with the Rev. Bobby Harrell officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Mr. Duke was born in Savannah, GA on October 27, 1927 and moved to Albany at an early age. He attended Albany schools, graduating from Albany High. His interests in school were sports and he lettered in baseball, football, basketball and track at Albany High. His senior year, 1947, he was chosen All-State end and All Southern end by the State's coaches and sports writers. After graduation he was offered try-out by the St. Louis Cardinals, but opted to play between the hedges on a football scholarship to the University of Georgia. He lettered for three years at Georgia, went to three bowl games with the Dogs. The 1948 Gator Bowl, 1949 Orange Bowl (UGA was Southeastern Conference champ that year) and the 1950 Presidential Cup Bowl. (the only one) Mr. Duke was selected as an initial inductee into the Albany Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. After college John entered the U.S. Air Force and was assigned to Langley Air Force Base, VA as an investigator with the (OSI) Office of Special Investigation. He also served in Tokyo, Okinawa and Eglin AFB, FL. At Eglin he played and coached the base football team. After serving for six years John decided to get out of service and took a coaching job with Thomasville High School where he worked for four years. He moved to Albany High for one year and then crossed the river to become Head coach of the Trojans of Dougherty High. After five years as coach and having received his Master's Degree from University of Alabama he became Principal of Dougherty. He retired in 1983. Mr. Duke became a member of Flint River Power Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadron, a safe boating educational organization. He took and taught safe boating classes for several years and held the Commander's position on three occasions. The Duke family spent many hours together boating through-out the years. Mr. Duke was also a member of the American Legion Post 30 and VFW Post 2785. He was a former member of the Dougherty County Kiwanis Club, and a former volunteer at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital until poor health forced him to stop. Mr. Duke was a member of the Byne Memorial Baptist church. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Marlene Eskeli Duke, two daughters, Tamie Hunt (Randy) Newton,GA, Kathy Boyd (Mike) Canton, GA, four sons Chip Duke, Mike Duke (Belinda) Albany, Greg Duke (Jan) Leesburg, GA and Kurt Duke (Chrysanne) Powder Springs, GA. Thirteen grand children, Misti Hunt Hendrickson (David), Newton, GA, Dr. Ricky Hunt (Dr. Mary) Donalsonville, GA, Megan Duke, Brittany Duke, Logan Duke, Albany, GA, Dylan Duke, St. Louis, MO, Kyle Tanner (Amber), Landon Duke, Leesburg, GA, Adair Duke, Canton, GA, Colby Duke, Athens, GA, Jacob and Regan Duke, Powder Springs, GA. Five Great Grandchildren Tyler and Emma Hendrickson, Newton,GA. Sophie and Owen Hunt, Donalsonville, GA. Kylee Rose Tanner, Leesburg, GA. and a sister Janice Duke Garvey (Mike), two nieces and a nephew. Mr. Duke was preceded in death by his parents John H. Duke, Sr., Dell Pitts Duke Leverette, stepmother Odell Stewart Duke, stepfather Alton Leverette and a grandson Guy (Gumby) Tanner. The family will receive friends following the memorial service. For those desiring, memorials may be made to St. Claire's, 2005 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Albany, GA 31701, Albany Humane Society, 1705 Oakridge Dr., Albany, GA 31707, Albany Community Hospice, 320 Foundation Lane, Albany, GA 31707.

Mr. John Duke, Jr. Obituary

October 27, 1927 - October 16, 2011