Obituary of Robert Enlow

Robert “Duke” Enlow 

Born October 12, 1939 in Jamaica, New York 

Died February 21, 2023 in Puyallup, Washington 

Duke was raised (by his Aunt Alice and Uncle Stephen Valerio) in Seneca Castle, NY. He attended a vocational high school in the area and was in the ROTC program while there. 
Duke enlisted in the Marine Corps on April 1, 1958 in New York City. He trained in aircraft mechanics and served out of El Toro, California with rotations to Hawaii. He completed his enlistment as Lance Corporal( after 2 years & 9 months). 

Duke returned to New York and tried his hand at minor league baseball, coaching golf & baseball, and was a preacher for a while. 

Duke then joined the Army March 19, 1965 in Bozeman, MT. where he again worked in aircraft mechanic, this time on Huey helicopters in Vietnam. He ended this enlistment as a Specialist 1st Class (after three years & six days). 
During his time in the service, he received numerous recognitions, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal w/ 7 oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple heart. 

After his time in the service of his country, Duke tried his hand in a number of businesses, many of them in the Tacoma, Washington area, a tavern, antique shops, landscape maintenance, maintenance and construction/remodeling. 

Duke married Kimberly Brown on December 1, 2005 in Puyallup, Washington. 

Duke was instrumental in the formation of the current Sumner Lions Club where he was a chartering member of the Club and served as it’s President for the first two years. He found the Club’s current meeting place and started the BINGO game fundraiser at a number of venues. 

Duke spent the last number of years, with health issues, in the hands of the caretakers at The Old Soldiers Home in Orting, Washington.