Lowell Curtis Duke

Lowell Curtis Duke was a strong Christian Man, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Farmer and World War II Defender of our Nation. He was a hero to his kids and went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 26, 2013. In death he will join his wife Lanell, daughter-in-law Jackie Stroud, grandson Carl Duke, parents Luther and Emma Duke and numerous loved ones who have gone before him. He died after complications from a fall at the Very Young Age of 91. Dad was always young at heart and not once did he think he was old.

Lowell was born in Robert Lee, Texas on April 11, 1922. He was one of seven children and his father taught them all to hunt, fish and raise their own food. His mother, Emma, taught him to preserve food or to "put up" a garden so he would always have something to eat. Dad went to high school in Westbrook, Texas. After graduation he joined the Military in Abilene, Texas and was shipped out to McClellan Field California. His Military Service began when he was shipped overseas during World War II, during his service he received the American Theater Ribbon, an European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon. One of Lowell's greatest achievements was receiving the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action against an enemy of the United States. He also received a Victory Medal, 1 Service Strip for service of six months during Wartime and 2 Overseas Strips for 1 years of service in a combat zone.

Lowell was a crack shot and received accommodations as a Pistol Sharp Shooter; he was also an Antiaircraft machine Gunner with decorations and citations for service in Killkeel, Ireland where he operated a 50.caliber machine gun. Lowell saw battles in Normandy, including the storming of Normandy Beach, North France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. Dad was very affected by the war and never wanted to discuss his service, until his later years, when he would talk to his Grandson Nathaniel about his service.

After his Honorable Discharge he married Josephine Jordan and they had Larry, Dean and Rhonda Duke. He worked at Webb Air Force Base where he became the Fire Chief of Webb. He rescued many Airplane pilots coming in on a crash landing, he was proud that he never lost a soul the entire time he worked there. After he resigned he got back to his first love and began farming again.

For extra money, Lowell sold produce to the Furr's Supermarket in Midland, but he mostly farmed dry land cotton. One of Lowell's hobbies was hunting for Indian artifacts, such as arrow points, and grinding stones. Lowell has an awesome collection

of arrowheads. He was extremely proud of his axe head and fish hook and bird points. After Josephine died, Lowell met and married Lanell Vaughn Stroud who was the mother of Phil and Glen Stroud. Lowell and Lanell joined their families and had a house of five children. Though times were often hard they managed to buy a farm and had Missy and Belinda. Dad farmed his land for over 50 years and had many struggles. He often described dry land farming as "hoping" and a "good gamble".

Lowell also had many pleasures including the cabin they bought in Ruidoso and the fishing cabin they had at Swiney Switch on Lake Corpus Christi, Dad hunted, fished, and worked hard his whole life. Our Dad was a One-Of-A-Kind, as Belinda described him in a letter for Father's Day she said, "Our dad is the "Ultimate Boy Scout". He could do anything, he was one of those men that could build a house from the ground up the only thing you needed to watch out for was his lost tools and the "electricity it could be a little tricky".

Lowell loved his family and Lanell (Bingy) with an amazing kind of love, he taught us to be honest, work hard and to be frugal. Lowell developed Dementia/ Alzheimer's but he was continually looking for ways to earn a dollar, ever until the end of his life. Lowell often said he would like to trim the dead trees up around town; he could get $10.00 a tree. Lowell said this sum because of his Dementia/Alzheimer's and even though he had lost a bit of his speech and some of his memories he remembered you needed to earn money.

Some things our dad loved was his grandson Nathaniel that he and Lanell helped Missy raise from the age of 3. Lowell and Nathaniel were inseparable they lived together until Dad had to go to an Alzheimer's home, he loved his dog Oliver, Fishing with Larry and Carl in the early years, fishing with his son Dean in his later years and especially taking Dean's "non" leaking boat out. Lowell loved visiting his daughter Rhonda in Portland Texas. Dad always wanted to know if son Phil had a good calf round-up on his New Mexico Ranch. He loved asking about his son Glen's Production Company and how many rigs he had running. He loved for Belinda to tell him about her latest house flipping and what she and Marla were up too. He loved to argue with his daughter Missy and get his haircut. He loved for Missy's beau Scott to take him to the farm where Scott once shot a deer with a compound bow; the first on Dads farm, Lowell was so impressed he called him "Robin Hood". He loved his care providers Laura Price; she was good to him and loved him. He lived his life loving the Lord and said when he prayed the Lord always answered. Our Dad was One-Of-A-Kind we will love and miss him so.

He is survived in death by son Larry Duke wife Rhonda of Midland, Texas, son Dean Duke and wife Brenda of Orange Grove,Texas, son Phil Stroud and wife Revis of Midland, TX, daughter Rhonda Fielder and husband Jim of Portland, Texas, son Glen Stroud and wife Charlotte of Denver City, Texas, daughter Missy Spellings and beau Scott Heineman of Midland, Texas, daughter Belinda Duke and Life Partner Marla Morgette of Midland, Texas, 13 Grandchildren; Courtney, April, Lynn, Brandi, Cody, Patrick, Morgan, Lauren, Jessica, Zachary, Chelsea, Jacob and Nathaniel and 7 Great Grandchildren Aaron, Coby, Kaleb, Taylor, Luke, J. P., and Ethan. Living Siblings Opal of Amarillo, Texas and Nina and Bill of Washington and many more nieces nephews and family.

Family will receive friends on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at Ellis Funeral Home between the hours of 3:00pm and 5:00pm. A funeral service has been set for Monday, July 1, 2013 at 10:00am at Bellview Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Online condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com.