Orval “Duke” Gilson, 86, of Mercer passed away at 5:23 p.m. on Sunday at Sharon Regional Hospital.

Duke was born on Aug. 21, 1932, in Jamestown, to Orval and Alberta Hittle Gilson.

He married Florence Jean Shannon on May 28, 1959. She died Nov. 18, 2001.

Mr. Gilson was a member of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Mercer.

He was a member of Mercer American Legion. He was also active in the Mercer Golf League and the Mercer Bowling League, and was an avid hunter.

Duke is survived by his four children, Howard Gilson and his wife, Monica, of Fredonia, Pa., Rebecca Gilson and her wife, Karen, of Butler, Thomas Gilson and his wife, Diane, of Christmas, Fla., and Diana Gregory and her companion, Rick Campbell, of Mercer; one sister, Sara, wife of Wayne Patterson, of Hot Springs, Ark.; one stepsister, Vonna, wife of Bill Murrin, of Greenville, Pa.; one stepbrother, Larry Difenderfer and his wife, Carolyn, of Alabama; one grandson, Joseph Gregory and his fiancée, Misty; one stepgrandson, Justin; and two great-grandchildren, Morgan and Kane.

In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by five sisters and two brothers.

GILSON — Visitation for Orval “Duke” Gilson, who died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 10 until 11 a.m. Friday at Cunningham Funeral Home, 144 S. Pitt St., Mercer.Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Bethany Presbyterian Church, Carson Chapel, 100 W. Venango St., Mercer, with Susan Allen officiating.Burial will be at Findley Cemetery in Findley Township.Please visit www.cunninghamfuneralhomeinc.com.