Oscar Clark Duke III

The memorial service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at the church he attended, Willow Creek Church, in Winter Springs. Dr. Pete Alwinson will be officiating. Inurnment will be at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL at a later date. Oscar was born in Ft. Worth, Texas on August 29, 1930. He graduated from Miami High School and continued on to receive a Business Administration Degree from the University of Florida. He received his MBA from Rollins College. Oscar married Karlene Knutsson on June 27, 1953; they were married 61 years. Oscar entered military service in August of 1953. He served his country for 20 years in the United States Air Force as a navigator, earning The Distinguished Flying Cross and The Air Medal. He served one tour in Vietnam and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1973. Oscar received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Orange County East Rotary where he was active in all their many community projects over the years. In 1973, he opened Oscar C. Duke Real Estate Investments specializing in commercial real estate in Central Florida. Two of his sons joined him and later formed Duke Real Estate, Inc. Oscar is survived by his wife Karlene Knutsson Duke; four sons, George, Allan (Allison), Brian, and Kevin (Amelia). He leaves 10 grandchildren: Matt, Erin Heim (Edward), Stephen, Amy, Andrew, Addison, Clark, Ginny, Kevin Jr. and Connor. He is predeceased in death by his parents, Oscar Clark Duke II and Mary Elsie Cardwell Duke, as well as his sister, Charis Duke. Flowers may be sent to Willow Creek Church or, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the church in his honor.