In Memory

William 'Bill' Duke - Class Of 1954

William 'Bill' Duke

William Duke, 85, of Santa Clarita, passed peacefully on March 19, 2022. He was born on July 19, 1936 in Los Angeles to Roger and Arlene Lewis Duke.

Bill was a husband, father, grandfather and friend to many in his community. He grew up in San Marino where he became an Eagle Scout and excelled academically at South Pasadena High School, eventually earning the title of valedictorian and elected to Phi Beta Kappa at Stanford. After earning a bachelor's degree with distinction and a master's degree in electrical engineering at Stanford University, Bill joined the Navy and attained the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. As a young man, he married Anne Tomlinson and raised their two children in Southern California where he worked in the aerospace industry during the 1960s and early 1970s.

In 1975, following his divorce, Bill was given the opportunity to move to Mississippi as the General Manager for Litton Data Systems at Ingalls Shipbuilding where he met the love of his life, Jeanie Smith. He later married Jeanie and together they enjoyed sharing a life in the south with his daughter, Jeanie's parents, and her two sons. Bill loved to sail and enjoyed weekend regattas on his Hobie 16.

Bill was well traveled during his naval service and during his employment by Litton. One of his longest assignments was in Cairo, Egypt where he visited the pyramids and often joked about his 40 days and 40 nights in the desert.

After Bill and Jeanie retired from Northrop-Grumman, they took many vacations with family and friends. They attended the Santa Clarita Valley YMCA daily where Bill enjoyed his coffee and Sudoku while Jeanie completed her workouts. He was also known as the patriarch of the family poker games, often dealing a version of 5 card stud known as '2.3.4.5-dime all the way.'

He is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Kathleen Duke Tracy. He is survived by his wife Jeanie Smith, his son 'Little' Bill Duke; Jeanie's sons, and four grandchildren.

Bill suffered from dementia for many years but he was comforted by the love and care he received at home by his wife Jeanie. Even with dementia, he was often able to win the big pot during family poker games. 

William Duke, 85, of Santa Clarita, passed peacefully on March 19, 2022. He was born on July 19, 1936 in Los Angeles to Roger and Arlene Lewis Duke.

Bill was a husband, father, grandfather and friend to many in his community. He grew up in San Marino where he became an Eagle Scout and excelled academically at South Pasadena High School, eventually earning the title of valedictorian and elected to Phi Beta Kappa at Stanford. After earning a bachelor's degree with distinction and a master's degree in electrical engineering at Stanford University, Bill joined the Navy and attained the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. As a young man, he married Anne Tomlinson and raised their two children in Southern California where he worked in the aerospace industry during the 1960s and early 1970s.

In 1975, following his divorce, Bill was given the opportunity to move to Mississippi as the General Manager for Litton Data Systems at Ingalls Shipbuilding where he met the love of his life, Jeanie Smith. He later married Jeanie and together they enjoyed sharing a life in the south with his daughter, Jeanie's parents, and her two sons. Bill loved to sail and enjoyed weekend regattas on his Hobie 16.

Bill was well traveled during his naval service and during his employment by Litton. One of his longest assignments was in Cairo, Egypt where he visited the pyramids and often joked about his 40 days and 40 nights in the desert.

After Bill and Jeanie retired from Northrop-Grumman, they took many vacations with family and friends. They attended the Santa Clarita Valley YMCA daily where Bill enjoyed his coffee and Sudoku while Jeanie completed her workouts. He was also known as the patriarch of the family poker games, often dealing a version of 5 card stud known as '2.3.4.5-dime all the way.'

He is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Kathleen Duke Tracy. He is survived by his wife Jeanie Smith, his son 'Little' Bill Duke; Jeanie's sons, and four grandchildren.

Bill suffered from dementia for many years but he was comforted by the love and care he received at home by his wife Jeanie. Even with dementia, he was often able to win the big pot during family poker games. To borrow a line from Kenny Rogers, Bill knew when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.

The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, April 1, 2022