Philip Duncan

1932 - 2020

Philip Duncan
October 22, 1932 - November 28, 2020
San Diego
Philip Duncan was born in Northern Ireland in 1932. He passed away in San Diego on November 28, 2020, one month after his 88th birthday.Philip was born on October 22, 1932, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the youngest of four children to Alexander and Agnes Duncan. He and his parents lived in the city during Nazis air raids in 1941. Philip began working at Belfast's famous Harland & Wolff shipyard as a teenager.He married the love of his life, Mary Jane "Jean" Harbinson in 1953. Philip served at sea in the Royal Merchant Navy in the mid-1950s, which included a tense deployment through the Suez Canal prior to the Suez Crisis. In 1960, Philip, Jean, and their only child, daughter Carole, immigrated to the United States, and settled in San Diego where he spent the remainder of his life. He worked as an engineer at the National Steel & Shipbuilding Company for over 31 years until his retirement in 1991. Philip enjoyed his work especially conducting sea trials on U.S. Navy ships and cherished the friendships with his colleagues "in the yard."Philip loved ballroom dancing, visiting relatives in Northern Ireland and Scotland, exploring the world with his family on cruises, staying connected with friends in San Diego's British and Irish expatriate community, and drinking a properly made cup of tea. In retirement, he and his wife played a key role in raising their two grandchildren, Shane and Shannon. He drew strength from his Christian faith and the fellowship he found at the San Diego Christadelphian Ecclesia in Escondido.Philip lived a long, full life and was a true gentleman. He loved others and received love in return. Philip was born in Belfast to an adoring family, and died in San Diego leaving behind a small but extremely close family. Throughout his life, he lived by the sea.He is survived by his daughter, Carole Duncan; his grandson, Shane Mason; his granddaughter, Shannon Jean; Shannon's husband, Brandon Rakestraw; his five great-grandchildren, Mason Grace, McAlister Philip, Memphis McNeil, Miller Maverick, and Montgomery Jean; his nephews Alan and Peter Martin; his nieces Joyce Baxter and Sandra Morrow; Sandra's husband George; and his many grandnephews and grandnieces.Philip was laid to rest beside Jean on December 4 at El Camino Memorial Park in Sorrento Valley. Due to COVID-19, the family was unable to have an in-person memorial service. They would like to thank Philip's friends for their cards, flowers, phone calls, and love.