A celebration of life will take place at Zionsville United Methodist Church 9644 Whitestown Road, Zionsville, IN on April 18, 2016 at 11 a.m., with a visitation fom 9:30 until service time. Rev. Perry Montgomery and Rev. Brian Cook will be officiating.

Edwin Lewis Duke, 89, passed away peacefully Wednesday April 13, 2016 at Zionsville Meadows Care Center.  He was born in Zionsville, IN on August 30, 1926 to Lilly (Whitson) and Elmer Duke.

He graduated from Arsenal Tech High School and enlisted in the United States Navy in July of 1944 at age 17 and served until 1946 aboard the USS Dayton Light Cruiser. He married JoAnn Yager, his wife of 68 years, on August  17, 1947 and went on to  graduate from Indiana University school of Business in 1950 on the G.I. bill; the only one in his family to accomplish this.

Ed spent almost 50 years in the retail business.  He worked for L.S. Ayres and Ayrway Discount stores (now Target) until starting his own business in 1977.  He owned and operated the School House of Educated Wicker furniture store in Hobbs, IN retiring in 1997 to Bradenton, Florida.

He is survived: by his four children, Connie (David) Van Gompel of Solon, Ohio, Charles (Debbie) Duke of Carmel, Candi (Joe) Dziezanowski of Salisbury, New Hampshire and Craig (Linda) Duke of Fort Wayne; 11 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren (with one more due in April); and a sister Lenora Bowsers.

Ed loved his family, and was most proud that all four of his children had graduated from college.  He was a natural with babies and loved being at all of the baptisms, weddings and graduations.  He was a member of Carmel United Methodist Church for over 50 years where he served in many positions.  Most recently he became a member of Zionsville UMC near his care facility.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, brother, James Duke, sister, Gloria Alexander and most recently, his wife of 68 years JoAnn (Yager) Duke .

A celebration of life will take place at Zionsville United Methodist Church 9644 Whitestown Road, Zionsville, IN on April 18, 2016 at 11 a.m., with a visitation fom 9:30 until service time. Rev. Perry Montgomery and Rev. Brian Cook will be officiating. Arrangements entrusted to Indiana Funeral Care.