Duke, Gay H. (Dr.)

Passed: 1996-07-09

Age: 98

Source: Jackson Herald

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 1996-07-10

Information: DOC DUKE DIES AT 98 - PARKERSBURG - Described as the political figure who shaped the future of Ripley, Dr. Gay H. Duke, DVM, died in a Parkersburg hospital Tuesday at he age of 98.  Duke, who served three terms as Mayor of Ripley, had been residing with relatives in Belpre, OH for the past few years.  Among other accomplishments, Duke is credited with securing Ripley's first paved streets, street lighting system, garbage collection, sewage lagoons, police car, and city park.  ""Doc Duke"" was a man who was constantly thinking ahead"", noted former City Treasurer, Doug Skeen. ""He was always coming up with ideas to make Ripley a better place to live.  His foresight has proven to be invaluable to this town.""  Chic Casto, a city employee who was first hired by Duke, described him as a unique man.  ""He was a wonderful person and he was so intelligent,"" she stated.  ""He was his own man.  When he made up his mind to do something - he got it done.  He did a lot of good for the City of Ripley.""  Former Police Chief Richard Whitehouse agreed.  "" He made some people mad sometimes, but he knew how to get things done,"" he noted.  ""If the City didn't have the money to do something, he would just go down to the bank and borrow it.""  ""Ripley didn't have a police car, so he worked out a lease agreement on a Studebaker,""  Whitehouse recalled.  "" The City paid for the fuel, oil and tires and leased the car from Edwin Parsons"".      He was born in the Seamontown area of Roane County, near Reedy, the son of John F. and Nellie Birge Duke.  He grew up in the Frozen Camp area of Jackson County.  An elementary school there, since closed, was named in his honor.  He attended grade school in the Frozen Camp area.  When he reached high school age, he attended Ravenswood Academy by catching the train in the Meadowdale area along Liverpool road.  He earned a teaching certificate from the old Ripley Normal School in 1914, an undergraduate degree from Berea (KY) College and his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the Ohio State University in 1923.  He is believed to be the first university trained small animal doctor practicing in West Virginia.  Duke operated a small animal hospital in Charleston from 1923-49.  During this period, he also was among the first vets to use antibiotics in ointment form, developed and operated a medical laboratory, developed several innovative business techniques, and was Charleston's Food and Sanitation Department Director for eight years.      Returning to Jackson County in 1949, Duke moved to Ripley and became active in local politics.  He was elected mayor on three occasions, serving from 1957-59 (at a salary of $90 per month), 1959-61 and 1971-72.  Duke also served two terms on City Council, was Justice of the Peace and Magistrate for two terms, and served as Jackson County Coroner.  Duke was a member of St. Johns Episcopal Church and was the last surviving World War I veteran in Jackson County.  He served with the Allied forces on the Metz Front in France and was awarded a special certificate of recognition by the French government.  He also received the coveted 75th Anniversary Commemorative Medal.  He was a member of the Ripley VFW Post, Masonic Lodge, No. 16, the Knights Templar Commandry of Ravenswood, and the Beni Kedem (Shrine) Temple of Charleston.  Duke Drive in West Ripley is named in his honor.       He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Jessie Goldyn (Neal) Duke in 1984, an infant daughter in 1928 and daughter, Madelyn (Duke) Hall in 1990.  He is survived by a brother, O. C. Duke (age 95) of Medina, OH and four grandchildren, David Hall, Jr., Molly Hall Bland, and Beth Hall Monahan of Columbus, OH and Chris Hall Jones of Palm Harbor, FL.  He had eight great-grandchildren, one niece, one nephew and cousins, Richard and Carol Daniell, with whom he lived in Belpre.  Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Parsons-Waybright Funeral Home in Ripley under the direction of The Rev. Elizabeth A. Walker, former Vicar of St. Johns.  Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Thursday and one hour before the services Friday.  Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park in South Charleston with Masonic graveside services.