Ardis Darlene Derry Duke

May 30, 1918—March 2, 2006

Ardis Darlene Derry was born near Cody, Nebraska, on her parents' family homestead, in 1918, the daughter of George William Derry and Alice Johnson Derry. She was a nurse in the US Army during World War II, having enlisted in the US Army Nurse Corps as soon as she graduated as an RN from Baylor in 1944.

During the war, she married Claude L. Duke, Jr. Claude later attained the rank of Colonel in the US Air Force, and served in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. He retired in 1966 at which time they moved to Dallas and he became 2nd VP of Braniff Airlines.

Ardis and Claude had two children, Dana and Paul. By the time of her death, they had 5 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter.

(Each of the thumbnails below is a link to a larger image.)

1. Ardis at the age of three months with her older sister Doyle
2. Ardis, age 2, Doyle, age 5 in their mother Alice's little rocking chair
3. Ardis, on the right, with her big sister Doyle and little brother George William "Duke"
4. Ardis at age 5 with her sister Doyle and her brother Duke
5. Ardis at 12 with Doyle and Duke

[I don't yet have any pictures of Ardis as an adult.]

Ardis's husband, Claude Duke, was born October 10, 1920 and died September 6, 1987. His remains are buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetary, section CFF, site 3.

After her death, Ardis was given military funeral honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetary, with three rifle volleys, taps, and flag folding. The flag was presented to her son, Paul.