Charles Duke Furrh

September 24, 1966 - February 14, 2017
Charles Duke Furrh, known to family and friends as "Duke", was born September 24, 1966 in Galveston, TX to Lorena Dodson "Doddie" Duke Furrh and John E. Furrh MD. He left this world on February 14, 2017 in Houston, TX. He was a devoted father and husband, a wonderful son and brother, a favorite uncle, and a trustworthy friend. He attended Alamo Heights High School, Augusta Military Academy, and graduated from the University of Texas with a BA in History where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. A career businessman, Duke was co-founder, owner, and managing partner of Lola Savannah Coffee Company. He is predeceased by his father Dr. John E. Furrh and his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Duke and Dr. and Mrs. Madison A. Furrh. He is survived by his wife Catherine "Cathy" Pearson Furrh and his sons James Duke Furrh and Jacob Buck Furrh, and his beloved dog, Bubba, of Houston, TX; his mother, Doddie Furrh, and his siblings, Sandra and John E. Furrh JD, Lori and Joel Dunlap MD of San Antonio, TX, and Madison Furrh PhD of Pueblo, CO; his uncles, William M. Furrh and John DeWitt Furrh of Elysian Fields, TX; his five sisters-in-law and their husbands, and numerous nieces and nephews who adored him.

Duke never met a stranger and opened his heart (and his wallet) to everyone he met. He always rooted for the underdog and helped whomever he could whenever he could. An avid outdoorsman and sports enthusiast, Duke was a black diamond skier, a cyclist, a hiker, and a hunter. He was SACC Junior Golf Champion and a member of the Hole in One Club, as well as an accomplished tennis player. A lifelong basketball player, Duke was on the German National Junior Basketball championship-winning team. Duke's pride and joy were his sons, James and Jacob, and he loved nothing more than coaching their sports teams where he was yelling encouragement on the sidelines of every game. His quick wit, unwavering loyalty, relentless generosity, and ability to make light of every situation will be greatly missed by all who were privileged to know him.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 21 at 3 PM at First Presbyterian Church, 404 N. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78205.

Honorary pallbearers are Joe Bakke, Chris Troilo, Triple Fuhrmann, Elliot Nash, Chico West, Mike Spencer, Rick Anders, John Able, and Robert Riddle.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, www.jdrf.org.