Charles Duke

Charles Irving Duke, 84, of Pisgah Forest, NC passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, July 16, 2013.

He was the son to the late Charles Irving and Adele Mueller Duke. He was preceded in death by a daughter; Susan McAlpin who died in 1988.

Charles served in the US Marines during the Korean War. He attended Davis and Elkins in West Virginia and later graduated from New York University with a BA. He worked at Grumman Aircraft until he was needed by his father in the family business of Tax Searching.

He moved his family to Florida in 1968 and worked in residential construction with Zimmer Company. In 1975, Charles and his family moved to Pisgah Forest where he worked at Realtec and retired from Fordco in Connestee Falls where he built many homes.

He was a member of the Christian Science Church of Brevard, active in the Home Builders Association in Brevard, Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity and Rotary of Brevard.

He enjoyed collecting guns, gardening, photography, playing tennis and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan Mary Duke; grandchildren, (Susan's children); Christopher and Aaron McAlpin and Patrice McAlpin Jackson and husband, Josh; son, Stephen Duke and wife, Carla and son Matthew of Mt. Pleasant, SC; daughter, Patti Jerome and husband, Phillip and their children, Sara and Alex of Pisgah Forest, NC; son, David Duke and six children, Melissa, Zachary, Ashton, Davin, Gabriel and Chandler of Monument, Co; daughter, Beth MacDonald and husband, Scott and their three children, Lindsay, Ryan and Will of Mooresville, NC; one sister, Barbara Stubbe and husband, Richard of Pisgah Forest, NC and Charles' beloved dog, Belle.

A Celebration of Life will be held 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Wednesday, July 24, 2013 in the Chapel of Moore Funeral Home, with Military Rites being conducted by the Honor Guard for Veterans of Transylvania County at 6:30 PM.

Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 1071, Brevard, NC 28712, Transylvania County Humane Society, 84 East Main Street, Brevard, NC 28712 or Daniel Boone Council, BSA, 333 West Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801.

To leave a condolence for the Duke family please visit "obituaries" at w www.moore-fh.com .

Moore Funeral Home & Cremations Services are caring for the family.