William "Bill" Oris Duke Sr.

He was born on March 10, 1938, in Raleigh, North Carolina, to George Oris and Elsie Smith Duke. He graduated from Needham B. Broughton High School in 1956. At Broughton, he swam all 4 years of high school, was co-captain of the swim team in 12th grade, and was voted most outstanding swimmer in 1956. He attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University.

Volunteering was always important to Bill. Among the many organizations he offered his services to, the Committee to Save Southport Marina was one of his favorites. In the 1970s and 1980s, Bill also volunteered at Edenton Street United Methodist Church. He served on the Administrative Board, Council on Ministries, Mission Committee, member of Dialogue 303 Sunday school class, and Lay Shepherd.

He also contributed much of his time and worked closely with Dean Barley on the Board of Directors for Camp Staunton Meadows in Virginia and The Vineyard camp in North Carolina.

The civic organizations he helped include Wake County American Red Cross Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Southport Historical Society, City of Southport Planning Board, North Carolina Museum of History Foundation Board and Executive Committee, and the Foundation of Brunswick County Community College Board. Private organizations include the Raleigh Racquet Club Swim Committee, Southport Yacht Club, and the U.S. Power Squadron of Southport.

Bill’s work experience was varied: from teaching competitive swimming at Camp Sea Gull to marketing for Howard, Perry, and Walston. But he was mainly known for his career in the life insurance industry. He was an Agent and Agent Manager at Fidelity Mutual Life, Assistant Vice President of Pensions at Occidental Life, Senior Vice President of Sales at Occidental Life, Vice President of Marketing at Capitol Insurance Planning, and Partner in Duke and Dowling Continuing Education to the Professions.

Bill’s hobbies were wide-ranging. He particularly delighted in spending time at North Carolina’s beaches, sailing, dove hunting, searching for and occasionally purchasing antique cars, woodworking, and, of course, swimming.

Bill retired to Southport, NC, with his wife Ann in 2001. They loved restoring and adding onto their historic home, which they filled with family, friends, and antiques. In addition to being a consummate host, Bill also continued to enjoy swimming, and in good weather could be seen walking or biking around Southport. He was known by friends and family as a good and honorable man and the perfect southern gentleman who worked hard and loved his family.

Bill is predeceased by his loving wife Ann Brock Duke and his sister Donna Sue Roberts.

Bill is survived by his children Charlotte (Tom) Duke Englehart of Raleigh, NC, Bill (Kellie) Oris Duke Jr. of Raleigh, NC, and David (Windy) Elliott Duke of Wilmington, NC; four grandchildren: William Elijah Duke, Georgia Kaye Duke, Wyatt Payne Englehart, and Olivia Marie Pigford; three stepdaughters: Martha (JC) Poindexter of Roanoke, VA, Virginia (Jeffrey) Mayone of Raleigh, NC, Shannon (Amy) Lambeth of Decatur, GA, and their children: Taylor Poindexter Devine, Parker Poindexter, Maggie Brock Mayone, Matthew Tyler Mayone, Mary Virginia Mayone, Emma Tomlinson Zeller, Lucas Craig Zeller; three nieces: Lori Jones of Bend, OR, Samantha Roberts of Chimacum, WA, Melissa Roberts of Concord CA and Peggy Payne Duke, mother of his three children.

A Memorial Service will be held on at 2:00 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 W Edenton St, Raleigh. The family will receive immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Scholarship set up in Ann Duke’s name at the Brunswick County Community College in Horticulture. The contact is Jana Kisskalt. Her email address is [email protected], and her phone number is (910) 755-7473. The website is https://brunswickcc.edu/foundation/giving.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh is serving the Duke family.