Duke D. Johnston, age 83, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, July 9, at Skagit Regional Hospital in Mount Vernon.

He was a resident of Oak Harbor.

Duke was born in New York on Feb. 6, 1932, to Mabel and Newman Johnston.

Duke’s passion for flying led him to a career as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, from which he ultimately retired as a lieutenant colonel.

While in the Air Force, he completed two undergraduate degrees in education and criminal justice from the University of Maryland. When he retired from the Air Force, he obtained a law degree from the University of Baltimore in 1979.

On recommendations from friends in the Northwest, Duke visited Whidbey Island and fell in love with the region, ultimately settling in Oak Harbor, where he passed his bar exam and was awarded the right to practice law by the Washington State Supreme Court.

Duke retired from his law career after serving Island County as a public defender from 1981 to 1984 and as judge pro-tem from 1984 to 2003.

Duke enjoyed his retirement years pursuing his hobbies of woodworking and target-shooting and island life.

Duke is survived by his wife, Victoria; his children, Duke (junior) and Elizabeth (Mclaughlin), Paula (Tuzzolino), Gloria (Watson), Michael (Harrell) and David (Harrell).

He was preceded in death by his sister, Jean (Webb) and his brother, Newman.

The words Duke chose to live by are the last two lines of the poem, “Invictus,” by William Ernest Henley: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., July 17, at Wallin Funeral Home in Oak Harbor. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the SPCA or a local animal shelter in honor of Duke’s love for animals.

The family would like to thank all those who supported Duke throughout his lifetime, but especially the medical community and staff that worked had to see that the winter of his life was spent enjoying the tranquility of his home over-looking Puget Sound. Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes and the San Juan Islands.

To share memories of Duke, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com