Colonel Robert "Bobby" G. Duke (USAF, Retired), 75, a native of Mobile and a resident of Spanish Fort, died Wednesday, June 13, 2007.
He was born on May 6, 1932, attended Catholic grammar school, graduated from McGill Institute in 1950, and was inducted into the McGill Toolen Hall of Fame on October 28, 1976.
He attended Auburn University on a football athletic scholarship where he was a three (3) year letterman, before graduating in 1954. After a short tenure as Athletic Director/Head Coach of Robertsdale High School, he was commissioned into the USAF in September 1954. During his active duty with the USAF as a Special Agent with the Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), the agency responsible for criminal counterintelligence and fraud investigations for the USAF, after 22 plus years he retired as the Director of Fraud Investigations for the USAF.
Upon retirement he accepted employment with Scott Paper Company in Mobile, Alabama, as the Manager of Safety, Health, and Security, and retired in June 1994.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Ann Duke; four four daughters, Brenda Duke of Pensacola, Fla., Teresa Duke of New Orleans, Denise Duke of Omaha, Neb., and Linda (Kirk) Barrett; seven grandchildren, Michael (Melinda) Frantz of Tallahassee, Fla., Jason Duke of Mobile, M. "Scott" Frantz of Peacolcola, Amy Frantz of Pensacola, Kristy (Christopher) McIntyre of Semmes, Katie Barrett of Spanish Fort, and Kellie Barrett of Spanish Fort; two great-grandchildren; brother John C. (Nettie) Duke of Benton, Ark., and sister Maryanne (Carl) Hasley of Biloxi, Miss.
Visitation will be held beginning at 10 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. Friday, June 15 from the chapel of Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Daphne.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the McGill-Toolen Foundation, 1501 Old Shell Road, Mobile, AL 36604 or Auburn University, Director of Annual Giving/Letterman Club 317 S. College St., Auburn, AL 36849.
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Daphne.
