Obituary of Bruce Duke

WEST COLUMBIA—A memorial service for Bruce Franklin Duke, Jr., 59, of West Columbia, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 18, 2013 at Thompson Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. Officiating will be Barrie Ray Baker. The family will receive friends from 9-10 a.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made in his honor to the SPCA, 121 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209. Mr. Duke, beloved husband of Daphne Duke, passed away on Sunday, January 13, 2013. Born in Tampa, FL, he was the son of Dr. Lois Duke Whitaker and the late Bruce Franklin Duke, Sr. He worked at SCLLR as administrator of the Medical Review Board. He was a Youth Member of Shandon United Methodist Church. He was a Lower Richland High School Graduate, USC Graduate and USMC. He was an Eagle Scout and enjoyed baseball and was a part-time umpire for the youth teams and his favorite, the Atlanta Braves. He loved English Bulldogs. Surviving in addition to his wife of 8 years, Daphne Duke of West Columbia; his mother, Dr. Lois Duke Whitaker and step-father, Dr. Andrew Whitaker of Columbia; father-in-law, Barrie Ray Baker (Sylvia) of Aiken; son, Christopher Ray Werts of West Columbia; grandchild, Carly Jane Hentz of Lexington; sister, Louanne Duke Friend (Dr. Richard Friend) of Mandeville, LA; sister-in-law, Melanie Baker Heyward (Duane) of Aiken; two nephews and five nieces.