Ray Dian Allen DUCKHARDT

DUCKHARDT, Ray Dian Allen

passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 29, 2017.

She was born December 28, 1934, in Glen Allen, VA. She leaves behind her loving family, daughters, Melonie Wood (Fred) and Wendy Zigler; granddaughters, Tiffany Lynn Luckey ( Matthew) and Kara Nolle Jolitz (Dan); great-grandsons, Chad Daniel Luckey, David Patrick Luckey, Ryan Christopher, and Christian Thomas Luckey; and sister-in-law, Rosemary Whittington (Gil); and many, many extended family, friends, and beloved kitties.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 53 years, William Charles Duckhardt, known to everyone as Bill; her parents, Wendell and Harvey Allen; sisters, Barbara Allen Garrett (Buddy) and Jacquelyn Allen Fisher (Randolph).

Ray Dian graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond VA; attended RPI in Richmond, VA; and USF in Tampa, FL. Ray Dian had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. After graduating from high school, she sang on the radio with her mother and grandfather. She also sang at the Old Dominion Barn in Richmond, VA and performed with Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters (June Carter Cash). Ray Dian went on to became a flight attendant with North American Airlines and Carry Bear, flying to exotic places such as San Juan, Puerto Rico and Havana, Cuba, in the 1950's. When her mother became ill, she moved back to Virginia to care for her where she met and married the love of her life and soul mate, Bill Duckhardt.

She devoted her time, energy, and efforts into her family. She worked two jobs to help put her husband through VA Tech, while raising their two beautiful daughters. She was the woman behind the man as her husband built a long and successful career.

She was loved by the nuns of St. Elizabeth's School for her energy and passion to bring about positive change. Many of her accomplishments include being instrumental in getting hearing and vision tests implemented in the school, volunteering in the kitchen, serving as President of the PTA, and implementing a Spaghetti Dinner Family Night on Saturdays to raise money for the school. She started the first Girl Scout Troop at St. Elizabeth's with her troop holding the record for the sale of the most Thin Mint cookies in the Richmond district. She also started the first Neighborhood Association for Spring Meadows, and did such an amazing job that her uncle, Ralph H. Dudley, the largest real estate developer in Virginia at that time, asked her to set up neighborhood associations for his other developments.

When her husband, Bill, was promoted at his company and transferred to Orlando, once again, this dynamic lady jumped right into Girl Scouts and was promoted to District Chairman starting with 23 Troops to 113 Troops in just four years. She always loved the Scouting Program and the value it brings so many young women.

Bill was again promoted and transferred to Dallas TX. By this time, her oldest daughter had started high school and was in the high school marching band. Ray Dian was the high school marching band's chaperone known as "Mama D" for all of the Friday night football games. She was a guiding light, an ear to bend, and comforter to many of the 300 marching band students, and loved by all.

Bill's final promotion in 1974 resulted in the family moving to Tampa and this would be their final home. Rolling up her sleeves and working hard, Ray Dian became an active member of several organizations to promote the many philanthropic programs she dearly loved. She served on the Board of The Tampa Woman's Club and started the VSA (Very Special Arts) Program that served special needs children across Tampa. She also served on the Board for the New Tampa Grads; Past President (1980) of the Dana Shores Woman's Club, Dana Shores Civic Association; and Incarnation Woman's organization. One of her most notable accomplishments was implementing the VA TECH Hokie Bird for Hunger Drive at Metropolitan Ministries in conjunction with her husband, Bill. This program is ongoing today at many Universities across the nation.

Not one to sit still, she also started her own company, J-Ducks, Inc., and donated 100% of the profits to her charities.

Beautiful and statuesque at 5'10", she was a top model for many of the designers of the day including Bill Blass, Herbert Levy, and Spencer Alexis. No one graced a catwalk quite like her.

She was an active, vivacious, beautiful Southern Belle whose style, grace and charm were well-known to all who knew and loved her. Her love of family, friends, and animals are her legacy and God surely broke the mold after he made this dear, wonderful lady.

On Saturday, April 8, 2017, at 5 pm, we will honor and celebrate her wonderful life at the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 6100 Memorial Highway, Tampa, FL 33615. A catered reception will be held immediately following the Celebration of Life at the Duckhardt residence in Dana Shores.

Donations may be made in her name to: Humane Society of Tampa Bay, 3607 N. Armenia Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607 or the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, 4610 Eisenhower Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33634. Please reference Ray Dian Duckhardt.

We wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of her caregivers, to the physicians and staff at St. Joseph's Hospital, and to Hospice for the excellent care and comfort they provided to her.