George Duke Thigpen Jr.

Duke was born on September 13, 1962 in Homewood, AL to Carole and Duke Thigpen, Sr. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Auburn University in 1985. He served as a Commander in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged from active duty military service from December 1985 - December 1989 and February 2002 - April 2003. He served on the USS Estocin FFG-15 and overseas at United States European Command Vaihingen, Germany. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal. He went on to be the Chief of Energy Management at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. On May 27, 2006 he married Chun Ae Cho. They raised a son and daughter, Tony Kang and Minsoo Thigpen.

Duke was a true Southern gentleman, a loyal friend, loving father and faithful husband. He was an avid storyteller and traveled the seas around the world during his military service. As much of the world as he saw, he had the utmost appreciation for the small simple pleasures in life: lighting a candle for a family dinner and sowing marigold seeds every spring in the vegetable garden. He shared with others a lifelong passion for the wild outdoors through hunting and was an excellent marksman. More than anything, he loved the open waters and dreamed of sailing a boat into his golden years.

Duke was preceded in death by his father, Duke, Sr. He is survived by his wife, Chun Ae, his two children Tony and Minsoo, his two grandchildren, Theodore and Olivia, his sister, Molly, and his mother, Carole.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 2, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church located at 1728 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Alabama. Friends are cordially invited to visit with the family one hour prior to the service. A Reception will be held after the mass. On Monday, June 5th, burial with full military honors will be rendered at 11:00 a.m. in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.

To send flowers, call Lackey Floral (205-322-5482) who will coordinate directly with the funeral home to deliver them for the service.

Funeral services are under the direction of Ridout’s Valley Chapel (205-879-3401) in Homewood.