Fred Duke

Fred Duke, of Beebe, Arkansas, for 91 years a kind and generous man, went to be with Jesus the morning of July 4, 2016. He was at home surrounded by his family. He joined his wife of sixty-five years, Pearl. Fredric was a veteran of WWII. He served as a Navy Seabee with duty assignments at Pearl Harbor, Guam, Saipan and Okinawa. He was helping build an aircraft runway on Okinawa at war's end.

Fred was a retired businessman, having businesses both in Beebe, Arkansas and Blanchard, Oklahoma. He was an avid fisherman and dearly enjoyed outings with his family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl, his father, Ode Duke, his mother, Ada Duke, and his dear stepmother, Dora Duke. Also preceding him in death were his brother Earl Morris and his sister, Oleta Putnam.

Fred is survived by three children, Steve Duke (Rhonda) of Daphne, Alabama, Larry Duke (Monica) of England, Arkansas, and Deborah Foster (David) of Blanchard, Oklahoma. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72116.

Family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Funeral will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 8, 2016, at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Beebe Cemetery. Arrangements by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, a Certified Veterans Funeral Care Provider.