Richard Walker Duncan

Richard Walker Duncan 84 , Havana, Fl. Richard was born in Topeka, Kansas on June 27,1937. He was the only child by Donald and Ruth K .Duncan. He grew up in Ottawa, Kansas and graduated from Ottawa High School in May 1955. He immediately joined the Navy at age 17. Richard served 11 years in the Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician. He progressed from Seaman to Chief Petty Officer in 8 years. During the 11 years, He served on 4 aircraft carriers, 3 of which were off the California coast. He went to Hawaii, The Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan. On the USS Enterprise, the first nuclear aircraft carrier, he spent a year in the Tonkin Gulf in Southeast Asia. It was from Norfolk Virginia 1965-1966. Richard first went to Vietnam in November 1961 as an advisor and was there for 4 months. He was stationed in Pensacola, FL at that time and had met Mable Lee. They were planning to marry two weeks after his return. They were married on April 12,1962. In 1964, he was stationed in Newfoundland in The Early Warning Squadron, and was able to take a trip up to Iceland. After leaving the Navy in 1966 he worked for IBM in Kansas City for 2 years. In 1968 he started working for Federal Aviation Administration as an Electronics Technician and retired in 1994 after 26 years. He worked for FAA in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Alabama before coming to Tallahassee, FL in 1980.  Richard always loved anything mechanical, especially trains and cars. He liked both real and toy trains and was a member of Train Collectors Association since 1972. He was also a long-time member of Antiques Automobile Club of America. He could fix anything as long as he could get the parts. He was a member of Salem United Methodist Church of Havana FL. Richard is survived by his wife, Mable Lee Duncan; his son, William Levi Duncan (Mary), daughter Donna Ruth Duncan (Samuel Chapman) and a granddaughter Kinsey Elizabeth Duncan, and all of Mable’s family who loved him as a brother.
A visitation will be held Thursday, September 2, 2021 from 5 to 7 pm at Faith Funeral Home in Havana. (www.faithfuneralhome.com or 850.539.4300) A private family interment will be held at Springhill Methodist Church Cemetery.