Charles R. Duke fell asleep in death on Friday, November 5, 2010. He was born on December 11, 1918 in Marshall, Texas and graduated from Centralia High School in Centralia, Maryland in 1937 and went on to travel the world. He loved traveling and even managed to find a job that allowed him to be on the road. Charlie, as he was known to most, began working for Greyhound as a bus driver and retired 30 years later. After that, he and his beloved wife, Millie, started their own engraving business and traveled extensively.

The most meaningful and satisfying work to Charlie, however, was doing God' will as an ordained minister of Jehovah' Witnesses. His greatest love was teaching people the Bible and he spent more than 40 years doing so. He was convinced that faith could transform lives as it had his own. So great was his confidence, that in his mid 70', he began volunteering his time at the local prison twice a week to help inmates learn God' will and gain a positive hope for the future. Though he lost his wife, Millie in 1996, his prison ministry continued. In addition to that, in his mid 80' he began learning sign language so that he could reach the deaf population with the news of God' kingdom. Charlie went on to teach others what he had learned in ASL classes and was able to help several reach the goal of becoming ordained ministers themselves. Those related to Charlie in the faith take great comfort in their confidence that the words of 2 Timothy 2:7 describe his life' work for Jehovah God, ""I have fought the fine fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith.""

Charlie is preceded in death by his son Charles R. Duke, Jr. and his wife Mildred Frier Duke.

A memorial service for Charlie will be held Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 2:00 PM- Kingdom Hall of Jehovah' Witnesses on the corner of Pinkard Road and Highway 190 in Livingston, Texas.

Cochran Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Please sign our online register at www.cochranfh.com