William Joseph Dukes, 84, of Columbia, died June 13, 2015. Born in McCormick, SC on December 9, 1930, he was a son of the late Robert Allen Dukes and Mary Lilly Byrd Dukes. Mr. Dukes graduated with honors from The University of South Carolina in 1952 having earned a degree in geology. He spent his life working on construction projects including the Wilkesboro Dam and Reservoir, the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, and the Khao Laem Dam project in Thailand. Mr. Dukes was a member of The First Presbyterian Church of Columbia.

Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Jean Hopkins Dukes; a son, William (Rebecca Mattox) Dukes of Ridgeway; daughters, Kathy (Bernard) Tisdale of Matthews, NC, and Jennifer Craft of Columbia; grandchildren, Hunter, Kate, and Abby Tisdale, Jessica Craft, and Morgan (Matt) Motes; a sister, Anne (Larry) Puckett of Baltimore, MD; and sister-in-law, June Dukes of Atlanta. In addition to his parents, Mr. Dukes was preceded in death by his daughter, Deborah Jean Dukes; and a brother, Robert Allen Dukes, Jr.

The funeral service for Mr. Dukes will be on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 10:00 am at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road, Columbia. A private interment at Greenhaven Preserve will follow. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to The Humane Society, 121 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209.