Robert “Bob” Hunt Duckworth

SCOTTSDALE – Bob Duckworth, a longtime Valley resident passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 7, 2018, at the age of 86. He was born March 21, 1932 to Everett and Nellie Duckworth in Martinsville, Indiana. He attended school in Worthington, Indiana for 11 years then transferred and graduated from Martinsville High School in 1950. At 6 feet 5 inches he was a natural basketball player in grade school and high school. Bob earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in General Business from Indiana University in 1954 and then served two years in the Army at Fort Lee, Virginia and then at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. He married the love of his life, Marilyn Fesler in Indianapolis on June 26, 1954. When he completed his tour in the Army in 1956, he stated “I grabbed the best job available to me at that moment. It just happened to be a job collecting delinquent loans with the Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company in Columbus, Indiana.” It soon became evident to him that the challenges of banking were exciting, and he never again considered any other career field. In 1960 he joined the Bank of Douglas (Arizona Bank) in Tucson, AZ. Soon following he was transferred to Phoenix where he became the youngest branch manager in the state. In 1966 he joined First National Bank where he managed the bank’s main office in downtown Phoenix and was promoted to an Assistant Vice President followed by a Division Vice President in 1970. In 1975, he became Executive Vice President and head of the Commercial Banking Group. He was promoted to Chairman of the Board and CEO of First Interstate Bank (formerly First National Bank) in 1985 where he served until he retired in 1990. He was a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. Bob also served as the National President of the Robert Morris Associates in 1980, traveling across the nation conducting seminars in the commercial lending society.Bob was a strong leader in Phoenix civic affairs for decades. He was a founding Director of Valley Forward, Former President of The Phoenix Downtown Lions Club, Former Chairman of the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of Sun Angel Foundation and an active board member of ASU Foundation Board, St. Joseph’s Hospital, American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird), Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Community Alliance, ASU College of Business Council 100, and many others. Growing up Bob spent his summers working on his grandparents farm. In the 1940’s he was plowing fields using mules and at the end of his life journey he was using computers, IPADS, Facebook, Email and Text Messaging. Bob enjoyed playing golf with his friends at Phoenix Country Club, playing bridge, traveling the world with his wife and spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marilyn, son Doug (Priscilla), daughter Cindy (Ken) ,3 grandchildren, Trevor, Brandon (Rebeca) and Hannah, one great grandchild Avery, sister Dorothy Hale of Indianapolis and several nieces and nephews. A private family service will be held in the Memorial Garden at Valley Presbyterian Church. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Vi at Silverstone 23005 N.74th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 at 3:00 pm. November 24, 2018. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the American Heart Association www.2.heart. org, ( 1-800-AHA-USA1) or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829 Arlington, VA 22215, www.donations.diabetes.org,, (1-800-diabetes).