Robert C. "Bob" Duke, 84, of Saxonburg, formerly of Emlenton and Fawn Township, Allegheny County, died at 3:30 a.m. Monday at Elmcroft of Saxonburg after an illness.

Born in Tarentum, Allegheny County, Oct. 5, 1923, he was the son of John W. and Alma R. Stobert Duke.

He was a graduate of Tarentum High School.

A Navy veteran of World War II, he received his naval training in Great Lakes, Ill., and served aboard the USS Stern.

Mr. Duke retired from Duke Excavating, a business he owned and operated in Fawn Township.

He was a member of the New Zion Evangelical Congregational Church in Emlenton, where he had served as assistant treasurer.

He enjoyed hunting and camping.

Surviving are three children and their spouses, Charles Duke and his wife, Joan, of Franklin, Darlene Johnson and her husband, Jerry, of Beaumont, Texas, and Brian Duke and his wife, Candy, of Soulsbyville, Calif.; and a sister, Deniece Teklinski of North Versailles. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Amy Zuccolotto and her husband, Anthony, of Freeport, James Duke and his wife, Paula, of Cabot, Rick Oliva of Beaumont, Texas, Lori Billiot and her husband, Marc, of Houston, Texas, Tami McGhee and her husband, Jason, of Katy, Texas, Tina Baker of Saxonburg, Jason Duke and his wife, Diane, of Renfrew and Justin Duke and his wife, Lauren, of Independence, Ky.

He also is survived by 15 great-grandchildren, a number of nieces and nephews and two sisters-in-law, Frances Duke of Marion, N.Y., and Joanne Kokenda and her husband, Jack, of Melbourne, Fla.

On Aug. 8, 1947, he married G. Louise Ruediger at the Westminster Church in Saxonburg. She died April 18, 2007. He also was preceded in death by two brothers, John W. and Walter L. Duke, a grandson, Thomas Charles Duke, and a brother-in-law, Louis Teklinski.

<B>DUKE</B> — Friends of Robert C. "Bob" Duke, who died Monday, Nov. 19, 2007, will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. today and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>Hile Funeral Home Inc.</B>, 1204 Kerr Ave., Emlenton. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Charles Campbell, his church pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at the Crawford Memorial Cemetery, Emlenton.Memorial contributions may be made to New Zion E.C. Church, Airport Road, Emlenton, PA 16373; or to the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Pennsylvania, 100 West Station Square Drive, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.Online condolences may be sent to localfamilies@hilefuneralhome.com.