Gabe A. Duty

Gabriel A. Duty, 91, was born April 3, 1922, Abilene, TX; he died August 30, 2013, Oklahoma City, OK. He was the last surviving son of the four sons, (Wesley, Ira and Gabriel's twin brother Cletus) of Charles Wesley Duty (1883-1962) and Lydie Elizabeth Hess (1882-1927). Gabe was also preceded in death by two sons-in-law: Paul W. Wilfahrt and John J. Tyler. His survivors include wife of 66 years, Wilma Elliott Duty; six children: Mary Linda Duty Wilfahrt, Catherine Elaine Duty Ziegler and husband Terrence Francis Ziegler, Deborah Ellen Duty Tyler Armstrong and husband John Armstrong, Steven Paul Duty and wife Lynn, Mark Edward Duty and wife Linda Clarissa, John Christopher Duty and wife Deborah; eleven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren. He served in the U.S. Army from December 1942–January 1946; at Camp Wolters, briefly at other army camps, and assigned in Leyte Island, Philippines, to Company "H," 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division where he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and later the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement. He was promoted to First Sergeant at the age of 23. He supervised the duties of 152 men in an Infantry Weapons Company, as well as formulated the records and reports concerning the enlisted men, and wrote the letters to the parents of the deceased; served as part of the occupying army in Japan for three months immediately preceding discharge. Gabe earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and English, 1949, from Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX. He had a lifelong interest in golf, including being a youthful caddie at the Abilene Country Club, a brief stint as pro shop assistant at the Las Cruces Country Club, and a "hole in one" later in life. Gabe had a long career in the oil industry working for Sohio and Grace Petroleum, was a Charter member of the American Association of Petroleum Landmen. He and Wilma are long time members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral Parish. Gabe served for decades as an usher and lector and, with wife Wilma, was named Family of the Year in 2005. He was a Boy Scout leader, lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus with many honors, and a lifelong community volunteer including six years for the VA Medical Center. Gabe and Wilma traveled worldwide in their retirement years. He possessed a deep rich speaking voice, yet was a man of few words. A man of high integrity, he served as an example of a true gentleman for his children. The Evening Prayer service will be held at 7 PM on Wednesday, September 4th at Smith & Kernke, 1401 N. W. 23rd. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 PM on Thursday, September 5th, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.