Melvin Duty

Funeral services for Melvin E. Duty, 84, Troup, will be 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in the Cottle Funeral Home Chapel with Doug Dudley officiating. Masonic burial will be at the Pinecrest Cemetery, Troup

Mr. Duty died Monday, Oct. 30 in Jacksonville. He was born Nov. 15, 1921 in Black Jack to the late George and Allie Mae Gray Duty. He was a lifelong resident of Cherokee County and married Betty Jo Dickey Feb. 5, 1945 in Scotts Bluff, Neb.

He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member of The Masonic Lodge of Troup from the early 1950s to 1984. He was a member of The Masonic Lodge of Whitehouse since 1984. He worked for General Electric and Train as an inspector for 26 years, and retired in 1984. He was a school bus driver for the Troup ISD, and a member of the Arp Church of Christ.

He is preceeded in death by his wife, Betty Jo Duty, on Feb. 11, 2004.

He is survived by a daughter, Marry Ann Wilbourn of Troup; a brother and sister-in-law, Merle D. and Joan Duty of Troup; a sister and brother -in-law, LaVern and Loyd Shuttlesworth of Troup; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill and Floy Dickey of Beaumont; three granddaughters, and a grandson-in-law, Shannon and Roy Thomas, Angie Wilbourn, and Tiffany Wilbourn; four great-grandchildren, Michael Wilbourn, Daylan Thomas, Vanessa Wilbourn, and Cade Thomas; numerous nieces and nephews.

Members of the Whitehouse Masonic Lodge will serve as pallbearers.