Lt. Col. Charles Henry "Dunc" Duncan, Usaf, Ret.

Lt. Col. Charles Henry "Dunc" Duncan, USAF, Ret., passed away May 2, 2016, at the Langdale Hospice House. Col. Duncan was born in Roanoke, Virginia on October 22, 1917, the son of Charles Wesley and Mary Mattox Duncan. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Jane Frances, and infant daughter, Jane Frances Duncan. Col. Duncan was the brother of the late William E. Duncan, John Wesley Duncan and sisters, Annie Duncan Shelor and Mary Sue Duncan Newman.
Col. Duncan enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 and served as a decorated P-40 pilot in the Mediterranean Theater during WWII with the 33rd Fighter Group. He flew 95 combat missions, and while with the 58th Squadron he earned 4 ½ aerial victories. His most valued recognitions were the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Clusters and the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for action in Tunisia. After returning from WWII Col. Duncan graduated from the University of Virginia and returned to the USAF. During his career he served as the Air Science Department Chair at Duke University and also was the Air Force Liaison at Camp Red Cloud Army I Corps in South Korea. Col. Duncan retired in Valdosta in 1968 and remained here until his death. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the Valdosta Country Club, where he was an avid golfer, and The Order of Daedalians.
Survivors are his daughters, Jane Kern Duncan of Atlanta, Deborah Wilder (David) of Thomasville; his five loving grandchildren, W. Gill Autrey (Lee Anne) of Atlanta, Kern Autrey Schwartz (Jason) of Atlanta, David Bedford Wilder (Erin) of Tallahassee, Florida, Jane Foster Wilder of Tallahassee, Florida and Charles Duncan Wilder (Callie) of Fernandina Beach, Florida; and five great grandchildren, Sarah Kate Thompson, Isabel Autrey, Noah, Skyler and Griffin Schwartz. Col. Duncan is also survived by his three nephews, Mac Shelor, William E. Duncan, Jr. and Dr. Malcolm Duncan. The family wishes to thank his dear friend and side kick of many years, Roddy Vickers, Mary Nelson, for her care, and all of the staff at Langdale Hospice House for their support and comfort.
Funeral services with entombment to follow will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at 12:00 noon in the chapel of the mausoleum at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. Chaplain Jeff May will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Langdale Hospice House or First Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.




Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602