Leroy "Duke" Dewkett's Obituary
Leroy “Duke” Harrison Dewkett, 93, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 27, 2014 in Longview, Texas. He was a current resident of Gilmer, Texas for 3 years and a longtime resident of Mineral Wells, Texas for fifty plus years.
Duke was born July 4, 1921, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He started his flying career as a teenager. He served as a pilot in the Army Air Core for three years at which time he received several medals of Honor: the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters; Far Eastern Air Forces; Asiatic Pacific Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Service Medal. He was a retired pilot with over 17,000 hours logged in fixed wing and helicopters.
Duke was preceded in death by his wife, Florence. He is survived by two sons and daughter-in-laws: Bruce and Margo Dewkett of Gilmer, Texas and Thomas and Debbie Dewkett of Gilmer, Texas; one granddaughter, Kelley Dewkett and one great-grand daughter, Rachel.
A loving father and faithful husband of sixty four years, Duke enjoyed working with wood and volunteering within the Mineral Wells community. He was a Boy Scout leader, member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, delivered Meals on Wheels and an active member of the First United Methodist Church.
Services are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home in Longview, Texas. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at the Rader Funeral Home Chapel. Duke will be laid to rest next to his wife in the Columbarium at the Dallas- Fort Worth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center.
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