Clarence I. Dukes of Parsonsburg passed away on March 19, 2022. Formerly of Seaford and Laurel, he was the son of Charles E. and Ethel White Dukes. After graduating from Laurel High School in 1954, Clarence served in the Delaware Army National Guard as an artillery communications specialist and was a bulk feed truck driver for Beacon Feed Company in Laurel. He entered the carpentry trade and became quite the skilled craftsman in the home construction industry. Clarence also worked at NCR in Millsboro and later became a millwright, retiring in 1998.
He was a retired member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Joiners, and Millwrights Local No. 219 (formerly Local No. 2012) of Seaford, with over 46 years of service. He loved watching football and was a devout fan of the Dallas Cowboys. He was also a member and officer of the former Delaware Campers Association. His love of camping and innate ability to build and fix anything led him during retirement to obtain maintenance positions at campgrounds in Ocean City, Md., and Arcadia, Fla. (near to where he and his wife had moved in Lakeland). They returned home to Parsonsburg several years ago to be close to family. He most recently attended Line Church near Millsboro.
In addition to his parents, Clarence was predeceased by his brother, Irvin Dukes; his sister, Charlene Layton, and his infant son, Dennis. He is survived by his wife, Shirley M. Dukes, along with son Craig (Chris) Dukes of Seaford; daughter Dawn (Mark) Collins of Laurel; sister-in-law Delorius Dukes of Laurel; three stepdaughters, Carol Mason of Salisbury, Tammy (John) Provost of Princess Anne and Linda (Richard) Seegard of Jacksonville, Fla.; six grandchildren, Megan (Brandon) Speake of Seaford, Kelsey (Chad) Lloyd of Laurel, Zachary (Mackenzie) Collins of Laurel, Brandon Mason of Orlando, Fla., Trevor Provost and Kirsten Provost of Princess Anne; five great-grandchildren, Ashton, Karson, Gracyn, Brandon and Ryann, and was awaiting the birth of his sixth great-grandchild this coming fall. He will also be missed by his precious dog, Tiffany.
Services for Clarence will be held on Friday, March 25 at 1 p.m. at Cranston Funeral Home, 300 Shipley St., Seaford, where friends may call from 12 to 1. Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Laurel.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Line Church, c/o Karen Bailey, 34767 Tingle Road, Pittsville, MD 21850.
To leave a condolence visit www.cranstonfuneralhome.com.