Bennie Melvin Duke

Published 4:49 pm Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Bennie Melvin Duke, 68, of Elizabethton, Tenn., died unexpectedly Saturday, July 15, 2017, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
A native of Raleigh, N.C., he was the son of the late Otis and Dorothy Duke.
Bennie graduated from Elizabethton High School in 1967. He retired from Snap-On Tools, Elizabethton, and also worked at Jarel, Robinette, and Magnavox. He was the scorekeeper for the open softball and basketball games. He was also a former coach of Snap-On baseball and basketball, and kept score at the Boys and Girls Club ballgames. He was an avid Atlanta Braves Fan and an enthusiastic collector of Atlanta Braves memorabilia. He was a member of Harmony Baptist Church, Elizabethton, Tenn.
He is survived by his wife of 48-1/2 years, Barbara Shoun Duke, of the home; two daughters, Melissa Duke, of the home, and Desiree Duke and Charles of Bristol, Tenn.; and one brother, Timmy and Sandra Duke of New Port Richie, Fla. Several cousins also survive and his “babies,” Blue, Dusty and Callie.
A memorial service for Bennie Duke will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Lyons officiating. It was Bennie’s wish to be cremated. Condolences may be sent to the family on our website: www.memorialfcelizabethton.com
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Duke family.