W. L. Duncan
Abilene
W. L. Duncan, 86, passed away at a local medical facility on Tuesday April 9, 2013. A funeral service is scheduled for 1:30pm Friday April 12, 2013 at the View Baptist Church, John Fanning officiating. Funeral services are being directed by Fry~Bartlett Funeral Home, Tuscola. The family will have a visitation and receive friends at 11:00am to 1:00pm at the church.
W.L. was the eleventh and final child born to William L. and Stella Mae (Blackwood) Duncan on September 3, 1926 in Trent.
He entered the United States Navy September of 1944. During WW II he served on two ships, the USS Herndon and the USS Murray as a Seaman 1st Class.
While serving on the USS Murray he survived one of the most daring raids of the war. The Murray sailed into the Suruga Gulf, Honshu and bombarded the city of Shimizu on the night of July 30. Shimizu is located 36 miles within the mouth of the gulf, and is only 17 miles from the foot of the famous mount Fujiyama. This was the deepest penetration of Japanese waters by any surface craft during the war.
The squadron received a "message of loud applause" from Admiral Halsey upon completion of the mission. The Murray was hit mid ship by a torpedo and returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs. W.L. was honorably discharged from the Navy in July 1946.
W.L. became a carpenter by trade and joined the Carpenters union in 1944.
He married Fern Burro in November of 1952. Together they had three children. W.L. and Fern retired in Buffalo Gap. They were married nearly 40 years until her death in 1995.
While attending church he met "His Love", Lyn Barnes, and on March 15th 1997 they joined their hearts in marriage at First Baptist Church of Buffalo Gap.
Joining these two lovebirds together created a large loving family of his three children Curtis Arthur Duncan and wife Jeannie of San Angelo, Rhonda Kay Hale and husband Bill of Midland, Johnny Dean Duncan and wife Treesha of San Angelo, and Lyn's children, Almer Barnes of Merkel, Wanda Ruppelt and husband Ron of Merkel, Jody Hawkins and husband Dub of Merkel, and Bobby Barnes (dec) of Merkel.
W.L. is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, twenty seven great grand children and one great-grandchild.
Fry~Bartlett Funeral Home
502 Kent Street
Tuscola, TX 79562
Phone 325-554-7404 / Fax 325-554-7405
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
During this time of great sorry may you find peace and comfort in this sure promise found at John 6:40
With Deep Sympathy
April 19, 2013
I am so sorry for your loss, we all loved him.
Ruby Bryant
April 11, 2013
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