H.L. “Duke” Abernathy

H.L. “Duke” Abernathy was born January 12, 1931, at Taylor County, Texas and died at his home on November 9, 2011 at the age of 80. Duke was a member of the Chisholm Trail Church of Christ in Duncan. He was a professional airplane pilot and owner of Aerial Services. He was a cropduster and a charter pilot for 55 years retiring in 2008. He was also a member of AQHA, lifetime member of NRA, Flying, was the recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for flying for 50 consecutive years and he had accumulated a total of 23,500 hours of flying time in his long career. His hobbies included woodworking, sailing, skiing, horse training and riding and hunting.

Duke and Marilyn Jane Cowan were married December 29, 1978 at Wichita Falls, TX.

His survivors include, his wife, Marilyn of the home, a daughter, Gweneth Baldwin, Wichita Falls, TX, a step-daughter, Robin & Ray Cook, Wichita Falls, TX., a step-son, Randal Doan, Wichita Falls, TX., 3 sisters, Lavern Fink, Georgia, Jody Francis, Tulsa, OK., Marcy and James Russey, of Santa Rosa, CA., and 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman Lee and Allie Mae Bright Abernathy, 2 sons, Russell Wyatt and Johnny Clay Abernathy , 1 sister, Maxine Woodruff and 3 brother in law’s.

Funeral services will be conducted by Leonard Keele at 10:00AM on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at the Chisholm Trail Church of Christ in Duncan, OK., under the direction of Don Grantham Funeral Home. Interment will follow at 2:30PM at Highland Cemetery at Iowa Park, TX, with minister Bill Lockwood officating. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30PM at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be, Doug Boggs, Bob Bumgarner, Carl Wessel, Jim Brewer, David Bowden and Don Perdue. Honorary bearers will be The “Geezers” of the Kickapoo Airport , Wichita Falls, TX.

Memorials can be made to the Taylor LeNorman/McCasland Cancer Center care of Duncan Regional Hospital in Duncan, OK.

Online condolences may be made at www.grantham funeralhomes.com.