Paul Duke

Tupelo - James Paul Duke, 87, died Saturday, July 12, 2008, at the Green Houses at Traceway after an extended illness. A Union County native, he was born June 8, 1921 to Clarence and Beulah Armstrong Duke. He graduated from Tupelo High School. He married his wife, Ilene Dickinson, on December 21,1941. He was a World War II veteran with the 8th Air Force in England, in the 388th Bomb Group, in 1945, serving in the European Theater of Operations. He retired as the District Manager from Standard Coffee. He later worked as the manager of the Fine Jewelery Department of J. C. Penney's and a salesman in charge of jewelery at Lady Lee. After his father died, he and his wife, Ilene, operated Dukes Jewelery Store in Tupelo. He was a member of Lakeview Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday School Teacher.

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at the Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Robert Garland, Rev. Harold Adair and Rev. Lamar Grisham officiating. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park with military honors.

Survivors include his son, Jim Duke and his wife, Cynthia of Pontotoc; two grandchildren, Hannah Duke of Pontotoc and Leslie Duke and wife, Lori, of Ashland; and one great grandaughter, Kaylee Elizabeth Duke.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Ilene Duke, on December 28, 2006; his parents; his brother Charles Duke; and two sisters, Beatrice Curry and Evelyn Duke.

Pallbearers will be Rev. Lamar Grisham, Rev. Harold Adair, George Rutledge, Gerald Wages, Charles Hudson and Kenny Simmons.

Visitation will be 5 - 9 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2008 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Green Houses of Traceway.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com