Obituary of Walter Duke

Ed Duke, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many, passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at Fransican Hospice in Tacoma, Washington. He was born January 28, 1941, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Dovey Marie and Walter Edward Duke, Jr.

 

Ed is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joyce; daughters, Jennifer Wright (husband, Joel) and Christina Leeper (husband, Shane); grandsons, Weylin, Kenny, Austin, and Hunter; sister, Margie Dickey; sisters-in-law, Pat Windham and Shirley Westmoreland; along with many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marie and Walt Duke. 

 

Ed loved many things, such as time with his family and grandsons, music, motorcycles, history, trains, traveling with Joyce and friends, and his Bible study group. His family will remember his love of the ocean, a good “Dad” joke, target practice, and a long road trip. He was talented professionally, earning much recognition as a law enforcement officer while living in California. In 1979, he changed careers and decided to try his hand at owning his own business until 1988, when he returned to law enforcement at Pierce County Medical Examiner as a Lead Investigator from which he retired in 2012.

 

In retirement, Ed volunteered at the Amtrak Train station and at St. Peter Hospital in the Mended Hearts program. He was particularly fulfilled in spending time with Mended Hearts because he had experienced heart surgery himself and wanted to provide comfort to others. This sums up Ed perfectly. He was incredibly driven, intelligent, but above all compassionate and loving.

 

A celebration of Ed’s life will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2022, 2:00 p.m. at Westwood Baptist Church, 333 Kaiser Road, Olympia, WA, 98502.

 

Ed’s family encourages people to make a donation to the Thurston County Humane Society in Ed’s name. He loved dogs and supported the mission of the Humane Society.

 

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