James Saunders Duke, 78, of Tall Timbers died February 24, 2012 peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends with the aid of St. Mary's Hospice. Bolt, Duke, Uncle Jimmy, Dad, Pop - he answered to all of these and probably a few that won't be mentioned here.

Youngest son of Roland Duke and Lillian Drury, he was born at St. Mary's hospital on February 10, 1934. As the baby son of 9 children, he earned his reputation as a wild child. He spent brief periods of time at Mt. St. Joe and Leonard Hall but was not easily tamed. He did graduate from St. Mary's Academy a few months after his senior classmates. His two surviving sisters, Eleanor Fearns of Leonardtown and Mary Angela Hicks of Nazareth, Kentucky, along with numerous nieces and nephews will happily tell tales on him.

He was preceded in death by siblings: Roland Duke Jr., Benedict Duke, George C. Duke, Walter Francis Duke, Betty Wise Lashley, and Margaret M. Duke Frazier Stolmeier.

Jimmy married Mary Louise Ricker in 1954 who predeceased him 5 years ago.

He served in the Maryland National Guard from 1951 until 1956. He was a CWA member and worked with the C&P Telephone Company as a lineman, cable splicer and installer. In 1972 he was honored with the Theodore N. Vail Medal for rescuing a man in a trench cave-in. Upon leaving C & P, Bolt did various jobs and could often be called upon to transport friends to doctor appointments and medical procedures. He tried his hand at acting in 1974 with the roles of Mole in the production of Toad of Toad Hall and in a drama of the Maryland Colony "Wings of the Morning", he played Jerome Hawley. James also wrote Duke's Corner, a column that ran in the Enterprise in 1986 through 1988.

Duke was well known in various local "watering holes". An avid Redskins fan, lottery player and Buck Snort Extraordinaire #452, he could be counted on to liven things up with his presence. He enjoyed playing pitch and poker and read the Washington Post daily from front to back, sharing sections and articles as he deemed appropriate with family and friends.

James and Mary are survived by all five of their children, Mary Beth Kircher (Buddy) of White Hall, Md., Michael Duke (Mandy Mulligan) of Leonardtown, Jamie Duke in Florida, Eddie Duke (Robin) of St. George's Island and Julie Duke (Richard Peregory) of Charlotte Hall, and his grandchildren, Jennifer Wisnom (Pete), Corey Angleton, Dustin Duke, Daniel Kircher, Kelsey Duke, Emily Peregory, Shauna Scott (Cory)and Michaela Duke, as well as great grandchildren, Mason and Owen Wisnom and Molly and Brady Scott.

The family will receive friends for Jimmy's Life Celebration on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD with reflections and stories to be shared about Jimmy at 7:00 p.m. The Duke family asks that you come as you are, casual attire is fine. Please bring pictures and stories to share.

In lieu of flowers, Jimmy has requested that those who are able, please donate blood and/or platelets to the Red Cross.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home.