JOHN L. W. DUNCAN, 89

LAKELAND - John L. W. Duncan, 89, of Lakeland passed away on Saturday July 10, 2010 of cancer.
John was the son of the late John and Mary Duncan. John was born on June 30, 1921 in Sioux Falls, SD. His sister Martha Ritchard also preceded him.

John moved to South Bend IN where he graduated from Riley High School in 1939 and where he was a starter on the basketball and baseball teams. He graduated from Franklin College in 1943 where he played basketball and was a captain on the baseball team. He was a member of the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity.
He was a WWII veteran serving in the Navy, proudly serving as a Lt. Jr. Gr. on the USS Enterprise the "Big E". John was on board in 1945 when a Kamikaze attacked taking the "Big E" out of the war.

In September 1943 John married Marianna Wilkey who preceded him in 1976. John and Marianna had 4 children, Bill (Ann) of South Bend IN, Nancy Fear (Ken) of Etna Green IN, Robert of South Aynor SC and Sharon Tambini (Gus) of Jackson NJ. John has 4 grandchildren, Angela Brown, Brenda Knez. Jonathan Duncan and Jessica Duncan Orban. He also has 2 great grandchildren Kenya Brown and Cadence Orban and 18 step grandchildren and 22 step great grandchildren. John loved entertaining his children and grandchildren in Florida.

In 1979 he married Rosemary Whitaker who died in 2005 who has 1 son Steve Whitaker (Cindy) of Elkhart IN. In 2006 John married Ella McElhany who has 3 sons Bill (Sue), Jeff (Betsy) and Ed (Francis) Brandyberry and 2 daughters Julie (Henry) Wilson and Vickie (Frank) Seibert.

After the war John started his career with the Studebaker Corporation where he worked for 20 years and rose to the position of National Fleet Manager. After Studebaker closed he was a self employed farmer and then in 1972 went to work for Avanti Parts Corporation as Vice President and GM, retiring in 1990.
John move to Lakeland in 1991 where he was an avid golfer shooting his age on several occasions. He enjoyed his weekly trips to the gulf at Anna Maria Island. John was an active member of the National and Lake Region Audubon Society where he took an active part in the annual FL bird count and enjoyed bird watching. He also was a member of Eagle Audubon Society and had 4 Eagle nests he monitored in Polk County. He was an avid fan of the Lakeland High School football team attending the majority of their games over the last 13 years with his great friend Vic.

John was a member of the Kiwanis Club and a 32nd degree Mason. John was an active member of The North Lakeland Presbyterian Church. John also was a volunteer at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
The family would like to thank Dr. Mulaparthi and her fine staff for the excellent care they gave him and would also like to thank the Good Sheppard Staff, especially the Rose Team for their fine care.

Services are going to be held at North Lakeland Presbyterian Church on Tuesday July 13 at 1:00 pm. Graveside services will be held in Bremen Indiana at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contribution's can be made to the North Lakeland Presbyterian Church or to Good Sheppard of Auburndale. Arrangements are under the direction of Gentry-Morrison, Northside Chapel.

Published by The Ledger on Jul. 12, 2010.

06/24/2023 EJS

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theledger/name/john-duncan-obituary?id=21503200