Virginia Sue Duke, 75, of Amarillo, TX, daughter of Martin and Pauline Duke, died on October 26, 2021.
Private family service will be held.
Virginia was born July 16, 1946, in Beaver, OK, and lived in Perryton, TX until 1957. Martin was a veterinarian, and Pauline taught high school English until 1957, when the family moved to their ranch near Chelsea, OK. Virginia attended schools in Chelsea, White Oak, and Ketchum, where she graduated in 1964. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tulsa in English. Virginia worked for the Vinita Daily Journal from 1971 to 1981, starting as a reporter/photographer and spending her last six years there as managing editor. She resigned in 1981 to attend Oklahoma State University, where she completed a degree in computer science. After graduating, Virginia worked in Dallas at Storage Tech as a senior software engineer. She served as a technical writer for Applied Data Research before being promoted to code correction engineer. Virginia continued her professional career in the Denver, CO area, where she was a senior technical writer at Level 3 Technology. While at Level 3, Virginia was essential in the development of IP and DS operation models which significantly decreased costs and increased efficiency. Virginia was also a talented artist and painted many pictures her friends and family still treasure. She also did many beautiful charcoal drawings and enjoyed photography. Virginia retired in 2012 and moved to Amarillo, TX in 2014 to help take care of Pauline in her last years.
Preceding Virginia in death were her grandparents, Dave and Mary Hummer, and V.A. and Elizabeth Duke; her parents, Pauline and Martin Duke; her sister, Vivian Black; and her brother, James Duke.
Virginia is survived by niece Elizabeth Black; grandnephew, Larry Dudley; great-grandniece, Abigail Dudley; and many friends and relatives, including family caretakers Mary Hummer and Cheryl Stephens.
In lieu of flowers or plants, please donate to Cancer or Parkinson’s Research.
Ginny’s Colorado family will miss her terribly. She was the most unique person I knew and was a sister to me. We had many years of joy, love, and great food together. This obit mentions her artwork. Ginny’s artistry extended to her cooking. She was famous for her tamale making parties, her ladies brunches and her Derby Day party where she made the best mint julips. I miss her. The world is a paler place without her brightness. I love you, Ginny.
Thank you for being apart of the happiest times of Ginny’s life, Cheryl