Rev. Duane W. Waters, Sr., 89, of Port Charlotte, Florida passed away peacefully Friday, June 21, 2024, at Tidewell Hospice in Port Charlotte.

Duane was born June 7, 1935, in Meadville, Pennsylvania to the late Arley and Hazel (Gard) Waters. The family moved to Parkersburg, West Virginia when he was ten years old and he lived there until he was seventeen. In 1952 he joined the U.S. Army serving in the states and Germany. After his time in the Army, he returned to West Virginia and received “his call to the ministry.” Duane served as a student pastor and graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, West Virigina, he then went on to graduate from the Methodist School of Theology in Delaware, Ohio.

He was a member of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, Mount Olivet Lodge No. 3 A.F. & AM, Parkersburg, WV and the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Wheeling, WV;  Duane was a faithful servant who served churches for 56 years in West Virginia and Florida. In the West Virginia Conference he served the following appointments: Edgelawn-Parkview UMC, Parkersburg; First UMC, Keyser; Fourth Avenue UMC, Huntington and Central UMC in Fairmont. In Florida he served: Harbour Heights UMC, Punta Gorda, Manatee UMC in Bradenton, FL and Trinity UMC in North Port. Duane retired in 2000 but soon returned to the ministry and served at the Englewood UMC as Minister of Visitation, he was then called back to Trinity UMC in North Port where he was pastor for seven years. Then the Florida Conference asked him to return to Harbour Heights UMC (now Christ Community UMC) where he remained for nine years. His final retirement was in 2018.

He is survived by and will be deeply missed by his loving family, his wife, Christine “Chris” Waters; a son, Andrew;  two step-sons, Charles and John (Kelly) Studenwalt: four step grandchildren, Amanda (Chad) Paukert, Trent (Blaire) Studenwalt, Zachary (Lindsay) Glorioso and Chase Glorioso; six step great grandchildren, Wyatt, Layla, Luke, Cam, Graham and Rhea.

Graveside services and military honors by a U.S. Army Honor Guard will be held Tuesday, July 9, 2024, 11:30 AM at Sarasota National Cemetery, Sarasota, Florida. A private Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date by the family.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Residing Hope, (formerly the Florida UMC Children’s Home) 51 Children’s Way, Enterprise, Florida 32725   www.residinghope.org

Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Port Charlotte Chapel.