Hearing about the death of classmate Albert Duncan on May 4 was a bummer.
I’ve done columns on him before when he came back to Ansonia for a class reunion. I don’t think I’ve missed a reunion when he was here. He must have loved us to come all the way from Colorado every five years or so, to visit with us….and I think the feelings are mutual.
He was so much fun in and out of school. He married another classmate, Linda Doyle, who died Dec. 17, 2011.
They had three daughters, Kimberly Bourn of Tucson, Ariz., and Teresa Egli and Melinda Myers, both of Colorado Springs, Colo., where Albert resided. His obituary said he had nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Other survivors are his siblings, Ronnie Duncan, Bob Duncan, Barbara Duncan Clarke and Paula Duncan.
In addition to his parents, Harry and Delores Duncan, he was preceded in death by brothers Larry Ehlers and Bill Duncan.
It was noted that he served in the Army during the Vietnam War, and eventually moved to Colorado Springs with his family. I didn’t remember of his time in the service, nor did I know that he worked for GE Johnson Construction, coached football, studied history and math, and played baseball and football, but I can see all of that happening with him.
A cancer patient, he was inspired to establish an annual fundraising event to support the American Cancer Society which the entire family and all of his friends participated. Over the years, he raised awareness and major gifts for the American Cancer Society. That’s typical of his personality…a very loving individual.
According to reports, he was a long-time billiards player (National Dart Champion), angler and hunter, and loved educating others about these passions. He loved riding his motorcycle, cooking, and spending time with his family. Barbara Sellers, Albert’s long-time friend and recently his caregiver, would come with him to his trips to Darke County.
If my records are correct, Albert is the 25th person in our class to have passed away. Others are: Jerome Rosenbeck, Gerald Subler, Nick Cox, Ron Thompson, Pat Nunley, Jim Hunt, Dan Brewer, Jim Lewis, Deb Hunt Jones, Linda Doyle Duncan, Jay Morrow, Terry Hall, Luis Macias, Anita Whittington Gibson, Gary Gibson, Keith Cottrell, Steve Shaw, Gail McKnight, Mitch Wiley, Pauline Borger, Edwina Lambert, Gayle Schlecty Koontz, Charlie Broering and Doyle Woodman.
I am pretty sure our class was three times that size when we received our diplomas and headed off into what they call life.
Albert’s death spurred me to look back at that point in time, and I will continue to keep records for as long as I can.
School back then was something most of us loved because there were good students and teachers there to help us adjust to life.
Almost every time I hear that one of them has passed away, I ask that they are now in peace and hope they know they will be missed.
Fly high, Albert. You put up a long battle with your illness. So glad you came into our lives. You won’t be forgotten.
******
Jamie and I extend our condolences to the families and friends of Classmate Albert Duncan, Donald L. Mansfield Jr., Melissa McCown Lingar, Jim Doseck, Edward Wehrkamp and Roger Canan.
******
Please pray for these people: Tommy Farmer, Margaret Hoening, Manual Macias, Lester Beisner, Kermit Foureman, Chuck “C.W.” Cruze, Mark Lovejoy, Pat McCarthy, Connie Buemi Hodson, John Riegle, Michelle Grottle Wright, Cheryl Slonaker Gilmore, Judy York, Donald Booker, Dennis Leeper, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton, Marie Schlechty, Jeremy “Jerm” Burke, Bev Brumbaugh, Gary Eichler, David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Abby Heck, Linda Lore, Ralph Byrd, Beverly McCabe Baker, Doug Winger, Rusty Maloy, Debbie Mayse, Sonja and Dan Coppess, Jeanie Francis, Noah Back, Mary Moran, Harvey Hinshaw, Bruce Kaiser, Angie Brown, Nikole Baldridge, Amanda Mote, Tom Moody, Gary Francis, Anthony and Theresa Grillot, Lee Everhart, Paul Gigandet, Doug Whittington, Tracy Pratt, Kinley Bernard, D’Arleen Waymire, Tish Hodson Shepherd, Zach Urbancic.
Also, Sharon Gamster, John Rimmer, Joan Keen, Carol Hemmerich, Sharon Hummel, Dave Hinshaw, Larry P. Fitzwater, Jim Thomas, Neal Gray, Michael Mowery, Kenny Edwards, Judie Hathaway, Della Burch, Ned and Brenda Wallace, Rick Marker, Randy Garrison, Steve Waymire, Warren Menchhofer, Gary Knick, Karen Hecht, Jannie Barrow, Kathy Gragorace, Danny Foster, Noella Combs, Clay Sheffer, Becky Everhart, Marie Rieman, Becky Oliver, Jayden Martin, Stefani Priest, Steve Neff, James Enicks, Joann Freeman, Cathy Collins Peters, Donna Bixler, Vanna Hannam, Linda Subler, Roger McEowen, Sally Burnett Ganger, Gloria Hodge, Jeff Baltes, Judy Hoffman and daughter Shelly, Cathy Melling, Scott Clark, and all of those who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
******
Happy birthday:
May 9 to Faye Rismiller Harman, Tammy Henderson Hufford, Nate Burnfield, Don Waymire and Darby Gilland.
May 10 to Clarence Kammer, Heath Riffell, Tod Fink, Virgil Rismiller, Carol Haworth, Butch Clark, Kay Hartzell, Jamie Hunt and Doug Shepherd.
May 11 to David Campbell, Gabe Wombolt, Dennis Poffenberger, Connie McCabe, Crystal Barga, Jenny Stutz and Joan Mangen.
May 12 to Retha Bubeck, Matt Armold and Ken Pence.
May 13 to Jim Miller, Kaleb Gerace and Mary Hemmelgarn Cox.
May 14 to Tom Buemi, Pauline Albritton, Ruth Koverman, Wanda Armold, Reganne O’Connor, Gavin Kelch, Dean Eby, Keith Smith, Emily Schmitz, Justin Shuttleworth and Greg Langenkamp.
May 15 to Aunt D’Arleen Moody Waymire (90), Matt Klackner, Tasha Fledderjohn Anderson, Kyle Cox, Chuck Miller II, Gary Cothran and Mindy Berry.
Happy anniversary to Larry and Cheryl Peters on May 14; and Dave and Jennifer Sturgill and Carla and Adam Kunk, all on May 15.
******
Think about it: “We have to be able to grow up. Our wrinkles are our medals of the passage of life. They are what we have been through and who we want to be.”–Lauren Hutton
