Obituary of Henry Patrick Duke

Henry Patrick (Pat) Duke, age 81, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2017, in Fairhope, AL. 

Pat was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, pharmacist, baseball player, coach and avid Auburn fan.

After graduation from Bibb County High School, he was recruited by Coach Shug Jordan and played football for Auburn University before moving to his love, Auburn Baseball.  During his time at Auburn he was an All-American catcher, team leader in home runs, stolen bases and batting average.  Ultimately signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1958 he moved as far as Triple A with the Birmingham Barons. Pat was proudly inducted into the Auburn Tiger Trial in 2010.   

Born in Randolph, AL on May 14, 1936, Pat enjoyed time in Randolph, Auburn at University, Munford as high school coach, Tuskegee as coach, opened a drug store in Talladega, retired back in Auburn, then moved to Fairhope to be close to children and grandchildren. 

Survived by his wife of 55 years, Carolyn Thomas Duke; children Henry Patrick Duke Jr (Amy) and Annalyn Carolyn Duke; grandchildren Annalyn Rebecca Duke, Henry Patrick (Trip) Duke III, Jackson Duke Reitzel and William Folger Reitzel Jr.; brothers Leslie M. Duke (Ann) and Samuel B. Duke (Susan).  He was preceded in death by his parents, French Nabors Duke and Idee Langston Duke; brother French N Duke Jr (Buddy), and sisters Mary Frances Pruett, Jane Inez Lafans, Ruth Lambert, Ann Bolding, Imogene Thaggard, Barbara Nelson and Lea Atkins.  

The service will be held at First Baptist Church Talladega, AL at 3:00 pm on Sunday, October 29, 2017.  Visitation at 1:30.  The burial will follow in Ashland, AL.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: First Baptist Church, 216 North Street East, Talladega, AL 35161 or Shocco Springs Baptist Assembly, 1314 Shocco Springs Road, Talladega, AL 35160. 

War Eagle Pop!