Robert C. Duke, 85, of Austin died peacefully July 22, 2012 surrounded by his family at Christopher House. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Virginia, to whom he was married for 62 years. He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Clara Duke and his son, Bobby. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Stryker and husband, Michael, and son, James Duke. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Michelle and Shannon Stryker and Wesley and Ashley Duke.
Bob was born in Houston, Texas on April 25, 1927. At the age of four, Bob and his family moved to Austin where he attended public school. Upon graduation from high school, he served two years in the United States Navy during World War II. He attended the University of Texas where he received a BA degree in economics (1950) and his LLB degree from the law school (1953). He was a member of Cowboys and Friars, and president of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Bob began his law practice as an associate for an Austin firm until 1956 when he was appointed legal counsel to the State Security Division of the Secretary of State's Office and subsequently appointed Acting Securities Commissioner for the State of Texas. In 1957, Bob returned to private practice in Houston, Texas until 1963 when he was again called into public service by Governor John Connally who appointed him Deputy Commissioner General Counsel of the Office of Regulatory Loan Commissioner for the State.
Bob returned to private practice in Austin in 1967. He represented numerous clients in the financial services industry and supervised their legislative programs. His efforts focused on financial regulation, interest rate reform, consumer credit regulation and revision of the Texas Constitution to allow use of home equity as collateral for personal loans.
In addition to family life and private law practice, Bob was an active participant in the life of his community. He served as Vice President of the Board of Trustees of Huston-Tillotson College; Chairman of the Administrative Board, and Lay Leader of Tarrytown United Methodist Church; Lay Leader of the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church; Chairman of the Perkins School of Theology Lay Advisory Council; President, Austin Council of Churches; Director of Lay Speaking, Southwest Texas Conference, United Methodist Church. He was Vice Chairman of the Austin Housing Authority; Executive Vice Commodore, Austin Aqua Festival, and President of the Admirals Club of Austin; and Director of the Austin Symphony Society.
Bob expressed his diverse interests in commitment to service to others and in personal growth. He pursued his spiritual journey through study at Austin Presbyterian Seminary and Perkins School of Theology while maintaining a full time law practice. During his membership at Tarrytown United Methodist Church, he organized three adult Sunday School classes and taught regularly throughout his 48 years of membership. He was an avid student of Thomas Jefferson and resembled him in his abiding interest in a great many things. He was a collector of scrimshaw, coins, stamps and fine art. He loved to garden, cook, experiment with new recipes and bake bread. He enjoyed travel and spending time with friends, old and new.
His family, many close friends and all those his life has touched will miss him greatly. Despite his many accomplishments in public service, law practice and community service, he lived his life with great humility expressing his spirit through action rather than words.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation to Tarrytown United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 2601 Exposition Blvd., Austin, Tx 78703 or Helping Hand Home for Children, 3804 Avenue B, Austin, Tx 78751.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd.
A Graveside service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25th, 2012 at Oakwood Cemetery Annex in Austin. A Memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 25th at 2:00 p.m. at Tarrytown United Methodist Church, 2601 Exposition Blvd. There will be a reception at the church, after the memorial service.