W. Frank Duncan, Jr.

W. Frank Duncan, Jr., age 94, passed away Thursday, March 3, 2022. He was born January 2, 1928 in Duncan, SC to W. Frank, Sr. and Agnes Sims Duncan. Following Frank’s service in the Korean War, he attended Furman and Clemson Universities on the GI Bill. He was an avid Clemson supporter, a lifelong Tiger! As a popular Boy Scout leader, he led his troop on two seventy-five mile canoeing and hiking adventures, with his troop wearing traditional Australian bush hats and carrying hiking staffs made and decorated by troop members. Frank was honored as Scoutmaster of the Year for the Lake Wales Phosphate District and Gulf Ridge Council in 1970. He was especially proud that several of the scouts under his leadership earned Life and Eagle Scout Rank. As a land surveyor and developer, Frank was the owner of Duncan Professional Group, Inc. He was actively and professionally involved in the development of local subdivisions, including Christina, Imperial Lakes, and Kissengen Heights during the early 1960s until he retired in 2000. He also trained DCT students in this field. Frank was one of the few surveyors during that time that could do field work, computations, and draw plans. All of this before computers and the technology that are available today. As an Elder at McLeod Memorial Presbyterian Church, he served on the session. Frank was also instrumental in designing a code approved restaurant kitchen for use by the church ministry. At age seventeen, Frank earned his private pilot license and once owned a small engine plane. Throughout his life he retained a love for planes and flying, especially the planes of WWII. He was a history buff of that era. Frank and Shellie loved to travel and explored most of the United States with their children, tent camping or pulling a trailer. In later years the beaches of Little Gasparilla Island and the mountains of North Carolina became favorite destinations. For 20 years, Frank and Shellie divided their time between their homes in Bartow, FL and Newland, NC. Frank loved music and the arts. He participated in Bartow Performing Arts and particularly loved building sets. He attended as many plays, concerts, and art and craft shows as he could schedule, supporting the local arts in both Florida and NC. Frank was a devoted husband and father. He loved being with and planning outings and games for his children and their friends. Neighborhood children would sometimes knock on the door and ask if Mr. Duncan could come out to play. He was a quiet person, but open and animated with those he knew and loved. He had standards he lived by, but with a kind heart. Family was important and he wrote about and shared his knowledge of his family and ancestors. He wanted them to know “the ones that came before”. Frank will be loved and missed by his wife of 57 years, Shellie Duncan of Bartow; two daughters, Marcia Howard and husband Robert of Greenville, SC, and Lynda Clark of Raleigh, NC; two sons, Lee Clark and wife Ann of Newland, NC and W. Frank Duncan III and wife Mary of Bradenton, FL; a sister, Joan McGill of Bartow, FL; a niece, Linda G. McGill; nephews, Bruce McGill and Steve McGill and wife Linda; and seven grandchildren, Harrison Duncan Howard, Alec Ryan Howard, Robert (Bobby) Howard IV, Christopher G. Howard, Wofford F. Duncan IV , William D. Duncan and Holly Clark Magner and husband (Alec). A celebration of Frank’s life will be held this summer in North Carolina for family and friends, and in the fall for family and friends in Florida. In lieu of flowers, those who wish, may consider a donation in his memory to: Good Shepherd Hospice, 3470 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33805 or to SPCA FL, 5850 Brannen Road South, Lakeland, FL 33813. Condolences to the family at www.whiddenmcleanfuneralhome.com