Robert L. Duncan

1932 - 2022

BORN

1932

DIED

2022

About

University of Florida

Robert Duncan Obituary

Robert (Bobby) Leon Duncan was born on March 20th, 1932, in Gadsden, Alabama to Charles O. and Vera M. Duncan. He moved to Orlando in 1935 with his family to their home on the banks of Lake Hourglass where he learned to swim, fish, duck hunt, and chase alligators in a homemade boat. He attended Kaley Elementary, Cherokee Junior High School, and Orlando High School. He then went on to Orlando Junior College and The University of Florida where he was a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. From 1951 to 1953 he served in the U.S. Navy as a Seebee and was stationed in Japan and Korea in what he always felt was The Forgotten War. Over the course of his life, he worked in the "big three" industries of Florida: citrus, building construction and, his favorite, tourism. He was predeceased by his wife of fifty-six years, Shirley Ison Duncan. He is survived by his three children: Paris (Peter) Yesawich, Whit (Cindy) Duncan, and Scott (Judy) Duncan, Sr. as well as six of the greatest grandchildren that a man could ever hope to call his own: Logan Baker, Alexandra, Grace, Olivia, Scott, Jr and Leslie Duncan. He was recently blessed with the birth of his first great grandchild, Whitney James Cade. Bobby lived a long, bountiful, and remarkable life and he enjoyed every moment of it to the fullest. The greatest moment of his life came while he was on his deathbed, and he knew that his time in this life was drawing to a close. Surrounded by his family, his youngest grandchild, Olivia, took him by the hand and, at the ripe old age of ninety, she led him to accept Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior. It was a powerful and enduring moment that will stay with all of us for the rest of our lives. He will be missed but we are glad that he finally made it home.

Details of a Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Orlando Sentinel from Dec. 5 to Dec. 6, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Duncan

Sponsored by The Orlando Sentinel.

5 Entries

Carol Hubbard

December 13, 2022

Bobby I was asking Tom White if he had heard from you. We had such good times in our SKAL (hospitality,tourism group) thru the years. So glad you accepted Christ as your savior, tell all of our friends that have passed hello and they like you are missed. Hugs

Peter Mackness

December 12, 2022

In Dallas in 1971, I was sat with my boss Ed Smith who picked up the phone and after a few minutes said 'I don't know Bobby, speak to Peter.' That same year I flew to Orlando from the UK to meet. It was the start of wonderful friendship. I met an affable, wonderful, smiling Alabama man who just oozed of passion for Orlando and life. We sat down and simply did business together, pioneers of Orlando packages. He introduced me to Florida, I introduced him to Europe. I met his circle of friends and he mine, he helped many of them in their work. We traveled and boated all over Florida, drank, ate, fished, talked about life and just had good times together.
His humor had no bounds. He was a true family man, proud of his kids and a devoted husband. No warmer person have I ever met, nor more positive, nor more jovial. A true gentleman about whom I could write a book. His boat was the Pathfinder but he doesn't need that now' heaven found him and am sure many awaited him at the pearly gates to shake his hand and say 'job well done'. A great man is lost to us all. Rest in peace Bobby, I will miss you forever.

Tommy & Connie Coates

Planted Trees

Frank Newman

December 6, 2022

Bobby and I met at U of F , he a combat vet back from Korea. We tried to drink all the beer in Alachua County. We failed but kept them working overtime. We had some great friends living up at the "house on the Hill". Bobby was the best I ever knew at keeping friendships going. He would round up old college pals and have weekly or monthly get-togethers. Always lots of laughs. In October for the past several years he drove up to visit at my home in TN. We'd load up a cooler with wine, cheese, bread, grapes etc., go up on Cross Mt on the AT, looking down into Shady Valley, drink, eat, laugh and talk of the good old days at G.ville. He was a Republican and I a yellow -dog democrat, I tried but never brought him around. Bobby, a happy, delightful friend. Heaven is now a brighter place.

Jim powers

December 4, 2022

I don´t believe I have met anyone who consistently embraced life as positively as Bobby. He always had an infectious laugh and good natured attitude. He loved to talk about interesting books he was reading or current affairs. He was honest and tenacious about standing by his convictions. He could talk about any subject and on fishing trips we talked often about faith. I am delighted to read that his granddaughter Olivia led him to accept Christ as his Lord and Savior. Hallelujah!

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