Richard was born in Fresno CA, on 24 Dec 1930 to Arthur Paul Duncan and Virginia May Dyer and from a very young age wanted to be a truck driver and when he achieved his goal he was hauling liquid oxygen, fuel for the rockets of the 1960's. He was also an expert roofer. In his later years he was a hippy. And after that he met up with a bunch of guys who were making 3 wheeled motorcycles powered by Volkswagen engines. And this is where he started to be called "Father," he being much older than the rest of the group
Richard age 26 married Sandra Eleanor Tyler age 17 on 17 Oct 1957 in Reno, NV and they had four beautiful children, Virginia Edith 1958, Carol Elaine 1959, Richard Charles Jr. 1960 and John Christopher 1964. Richard was a very charismatic person and nearly every story that he told was full of excitement for him as well as the listener. He is missed by many friends and relatives.
~~~~~
RICHARD CHARLES DUNCAN
My old pal Rich Duncan died on May 14, 2007 after a long struggle with illness and pain.
Let me tell you something about Rich. Richard Charles Duncan came to my home town of Willits California in 1954 after being discharged from the Army. While in the Army he had contracted spinal tuberculosis and he had spent 9 months bedridden in Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver recovering from spinal fusion operations. Richard was always a fighter and he outlived Fitzsimmons. It was closed in 1999.
With his Army discharge, he was eligible for GI Bill educational benefits. He still wanted to finish his high school education so he went to Willits High School on the GI Bill. I was a student there, and that's where we met. I don't remember why we became such good friends. Maybe it was because he was so different from the hillbillies in my home town. Or because I had a '48 Ford and he was willing to spend his GI Bill money on
gasoline so we could ride around. Or possibly because he was so light-hearted, laughing out loud at my worrying.
Anyway, we hit it off and we looked forward to getting out of school every day to start drinking wine (Rich liked sweet wines like Muscatel which he called "Muscadoodle") and to drive around the country shouting blasphemous remarks at no one in particular. We invented our own church and called each other "Brother Rich" and "Brother Ernie" as we formulated special entrance requirements for female church members.
Rich organized a hot rod club and started rebuilding a 1934 Ford coupe. We drove all the way to Woodland California to see a Lincoln V12 engine to put in the coupe. He fell in love with the engine and he talked me into carrying it back to Willits in the trunk of my car. Five guys jammed the engine into my trunk and tied it in with ropes. The rear of the car sagged down and rested on the rear axle. As we drove back to Willits every bump in the
road jarred us and the headlights pointed up into the trees instead of down the road.
I moved away from Willits, and the next time I saw Rich he was married to his beautiful wife Sandra and they were starting their family. I later moved around the country a lot and the next time I saw Rich, he and Sandra had raised four children who were already grown and gone. I don't know where all those years went.
We kept in touch somewhat over the years so I know he continued his love of all things automotive, switching from 4-wheel cars to 3-wheel motorcycles. I have a picture of a smiling Rich proudly riding a purple VW-powered trike that he built.
By his example, Rich Duncan gave me the ability to laugh at preposterous events of life.
A poem was written in the words of a father whose son was leaving and who was afraid
he would never see him again. Richard is leaving us now but he left good memories of
a jolly friend who will be missed by those of us who survive. And when we hear
someone's happy laugh we will know that Rich is nearby. Here is that poem:
Danny Boy
by Frederic Weatherly
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
Rest in Peace, My good friend Rich.
Ernie Ardans. May 17, 2007
Richard age 26 married Sandra Eleanor Tyler age 17 on 17 Oct 1957 in Reno, NV and they had four beautiful children, Virginia Edith 1958, Carol Elaine 1959, Richard Charles Jr. 1960 and John Christopher 1964. Richard was a very charismatic person and nearly every story that he told was full of excitement for him as well as the listener. He is missed by many friends and relatives.
~~~~~
RICHARD CHARLES DUNCAN
My old pal Rich Duncan died on May 14, 2007 after a long struggle with illness and pain.
Let me tell you something about Rich. Richard Charles Duncan came to my home town of Willits California in 1954 after being discharged from the Army. While in the Army he had contracted spinal tuberculosis and he had spent 9 months bedridden in Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver recovering from spinal fusion operations. Richard was always a fighter and he outlived Fitzsimmons. It was closed in 1999.
With his Army discharge, he was eligible for GI Bill educational benefits. He still wanted to finish his high school education so he went to Willits High School on the GI Bill. I was a student there, and that's where we met. I don't remember why we became such good friends. Maybe it was because he was so different from the hillbillies in my home town. Or because I had a '48 Ford and he was willing to spend his GI Bill money on
gasoline so we could ride around. Or possibly because he was so light-hearted, laughing out loud at my worrying.
Anyway, we hit it off and we looked forward to getting out of school every day to start drinking wine (Rich liked sweet wines like Muscatel which he called "Muscadoodle") and to drive around the country shouting blasphemous remarks at no one in particular. We invented our own church and called each other "Brother Rich" and "Brother Ernie" as we formulated special entrance requirements for female church members.
Rich organized a hot rod club and started rebuilding a 1934 Ford coupe. We drove all the way to Woodland California to see a Lincoln V12 engine to put in the coupe. He fell in love with the engine and he talked me into carrying it back to Willits in the trunk of my car. Five guys jammed the engine into my trunk and tied it in with ropes. The rear of the car sagged down and rested on the rear axle. As we drove back to Willits every bump in the
road jarred us and the headlights pointed up into the trees instead of down the road.
I moved away from Willits, and the next time I saw Rich he was married to his beautiful wife Sandra and they were starting their family. I later moved around the country a lot and the next time I saw Rich, he and Sandra had raised four children who were already grown and gone. I don't know where all those years went.
We kept in touch somewhat over the years so I know he continued his love of all things automotive, switching from 4-wheel cars to 3-wheel motorcycles. I have a picture of a smiling Rich proudly riding a purple VW-powered trike that he built.
By his example, Rich Duncan gave me the ability to laugh at preposterous events of life.
A poem was written in the words of a father whose son was leaving and who was afraid
he would never see him again. Richard is leaving us now but he left good memories of
a jolly friend who will be missed by those of us who survive. And when we hear
someone's happy laugh we will know that Rich is nearby. Here is that poem:
Danny Boy
by Frederic Weatherly
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
Rest in Peace, My good friend Rich.
Ernie Ardans. May 17, 2007
Richard was born in Fresno CA, on 24 Dec 1930 to Arthur Paul Duncan and Virginia May Dyer and from a very young age wanted to be a truck driver and when he achieved his goal he was hauling liquid oxygen, fuel for the rockets of the 1960's. He was also an expert roofer. In his later years he was a hippy. And after that he met up with a bunch of guys who were making 3 wheeled motorcycles powered by Volkswagen engines. And this is where he started to be called "Father," he being much older than the rest of the group
Richard age 26 married Sandra Eleanor Tyler age 17 on 17 Oct 1957 in Reno, NV and they had four beautiful children, Virginia Edith 1958, Carol Elaine 1959, Richard Charles Jr. 1960 and John Christopher 1964. Richard was a very charismatic person and nearly every story that he told was full of excitement for him as well as the listener. He is missed by many friends and relatives.
~~~~~
RICHARD CHARLES DUNCAN
My old pal Rich Duncan died on May 14, 2007 after a long struggle with illness and pain.
Let me tell you something about Rich. Richard Charles Duncan came to my home town of Willits California in 1954 after being discharged from the Army. While in the Army he had contracted spinal tuberculosis and he had spent 9 months bedridden in Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver recovering from spinal fusion operations. Richard was always a fighter and he outlived Fitzsimmons. It was closed in 1999.
With his Army discharge, he was eligible for GI Bill educational benefits. He still wanted to finish his high school education so he went to Willits High School on the GI Bill. I was a student there, and that's where we met. I don't remember why we became such good friends. Maybe it was because he was so different from the hillbillies in my home town. Or because I had a '48 Ford and he was willing to spend his GI Bill money on
gasoline so we could ride around. Or possibly because he was so light-hearted, laughing out loud at my worrying.
Anyway, we hit it off and we looked forward to getting out of school every day to start drinking wine (Rich liked sweet wines like Muscatel which he called "Muscadoodle") and to drive around the country shouting blasphemous remarks at no one in particular. We invented our own church and called each other "Brother Rich" and "Brother Ernie" as we formulated special entrance requirements for female church members.
Rich organized a hot rod club and started rebuilding a 1934 Ford coupe. We drove all the way to Woodland California to see a Lincoln V12 engine to put in the coupe. He fell in love with the engine and he talked me into carrying it back to Willits in the trunk of my car. Five guys jammed the engine into my trunk and tied it in with ropes. The rear of the car sagged down and rested on the rear axle. As we drove back to Willits every bump in the
road jarred us and the headlights pointed up into the trees instead of down the road.
I moved away from Willits, and the next time I saw Rich he was married to his beautiful wife Sandra and they were starting their family. I later moved around the country a lot and the next time I saw Rich, he and Sandra had raised four children who were already grown and gone. I don't know where all those years went.
We kept in touch somewhat over the years so I know he continued his love of all things automotive, switching from 4-wheel cars to 3-wheel motorcycles. I have a picture of a smiling Rich proudly riding a purple VW-powered trike that he built.
By his example, Rich Duncan gave me the ability to laugh at preposterous events of life.
A poem was written in the words of a father whose son was leaving and who was afraid
he would never see him again. Richard is leaving us now but he left good memories of
a jolly friend who will be missed by those of us who survive. And when we hear
someone's happy laugh we will know that Rich is nearby. Here is that poem:
Danny Boy
by Frederic Weatherly
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
Rest in Peace, My good friend Rich.
Ernie Ardans. May 17, 2007
Richard age 26 married Sandra Eleanor Tyler age 17 on 17 Oct 1957 in Reno, NV and they had four beautiful children, Virginia Edith 1958, Carol Elaine 1959, Richard Charles Jr. 1960 and John Christopher 1964. Richard was a very charismatic person and nearly every story that he told was full of excitement for him as well as the listener. He is missed by many friends and relatives.
~~~~~
RICHARD CHARLES DUNCAN
My old pal Rich Duncan died on May 14, 2007 after a long struggle with illness and pain.
Let me tell you something about Rich. Richard Charles Duncan came to my home town of Willits California in 1954 after being discharged from the Army. While in the Army he had contracted spinal tuberculosis and he had spent 9 months bedridden in Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver recovering from spinal fusion operations. Richard was always a fighter and he outlived Fitzsimmons. It was closed in 1999.
With his Army discharge, he was eligible for GI Bill educational benefits. He still wanted to finish his high school education so he went to Willits High School on the GI Bill. I was a student there, and that's where we met. I don't remember why we became such good friends. Maybe it was because he was so different from the hillbillies in my home town. Or because I had a '48 Ford and he was willing to spend his GI Bill money on
gasoline so we could ride around. Or possibly because he was so light-hearted, laughing out loud at my worrying.
Anyway, we hit it off and we looked forward to getting out of school every day to start drinking wine (Rich liked sweet wines like Muscatel which he called "Muscadoodle") and to drive around the country shouting blasphemous remarks at no one in particular. We invented our own church and called each other "Brother Rich" and "Brother Ernie" as we formulated special entrance requirements for female church members.
Rich organized a hot rod club and started rebuilding a 1934 Ford coupe. We drove all the way to Woodland California to see a Lincoln V12 engine to put in the coupe. He fell in love with the engine and he talked me into carrying it back to Willits in the trunk of my car. Five guys jammed the engine into my trunk and tied it in with ropes. The rear of the car sagged down and rested on the rear axle. As we drove back to Willits every bump in the
road jarred us and the headlights pointed up into the trees instead of down the road.
I moved away from Willits, and the next time I saw Rich he was married to his beautiful wife Sandra and they were starting their family. I later moved around the country a lot and the next time I saw Rich, he and Sandra had raised four children who were already grown and gone. I don't know where all those years went.
We kept in touch somewhat over the years so I know he continued his love of all things automotive, switching from 4-wheel cars to 3-wheel motorcycles. I have a picture of a smiling Rich proudly riding a purple VW-powered trike that he built.
By his example, Rich Duncan gave me the ability to laugh at preposterous events of life.
A poem was written in the words of a father whose son was leaving and who was afraid
he would never see him again. Richard is leaving us now but he left good memories of
a jolly friend who will be missed by those of us who survive. And when we hear
someone's happy laugh we will know that Rich is nearby. Here is that poem:
Danny Boy
by Frederic Weatherly
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
Rest in Peace, My good friend Rich.
Ernie Ardans. May 17, 2007
