AUGUSTA, Ga. - Elwood S. "Duke" Newton, Jr., born on February 16, 1925 in Augusta, Ga., passed away at home on October 29th, 2008 at age 83. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann Sewell Newton of 33 years. Duke is a graduate of the University of Georgia where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing in 1950. He was a native of Augusta and graduated from Richmond Academy. He is survived by his 5 loving and devoted children, Elwood S. "Bift" Newton, III, Roseville, Calif., Mary Dantz Windham, Winter Park, Fla., Joseph Sewell Newton, St. Petersburg, Fla., Marie Wingard Grayson, Everett, Wash., and Patrick Scully, New York, N.Y. Also survived by his 4 grandchildren, Steven Michael Jenkins of Everett, Wash., Keri Frances Newton of Huntington Beach, Calif., Lindsey Dantz Windham and Lauren Elizabeth Windham of Winter Park, Fla. He was a loving and compassionate father who received joy in giving and helping others. He spent 14 years with Zaun Equipment Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla. as vice president and manager of that firm's St. Petersburg branch. He won the title of "Mr. Toro" in 1973, the highest annual award given by the Toro Co. to a U.S. distributor. In October of 1977 he purchased and successfully ran his own Toro Distributorship "Duke Equipment and Irrigation Inc." in Sacramento, Calif. until his retirement in January 1992. Family and friends are invited to attend the memorial service held Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 4:00 p.m., Lutheran Church of Resurrection, Augusta, Ga. Duke requested that no flowers be sent and that all donations be sent to either the Lutheran Church of Resurrection, Augusta, Ga. or the Augusta YMCA (Wheeler Street).

The Augusta Chronicle-November 7, 2008