Francis W. "Joe" Duncan, 77, died Monday at his residence in Altoona surrounded by his loving family. The son of Dennis G. and Edna R. (Boland) Duncan, Joe was born Aug. 1, 1931, and graduated from Altoona High School in 1949. Through the years, he continued his education with college courses in finance, banking and real estate. Joe worked at Seaboard Finance, Avco Finance and Mid-State Bank, which later became Keystone Financial. He retired as a dealer rep from Keystone Financial. After his retirement, he served as a consultant for M&T Bank. Joe retired as a master sergeant from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard after 27 years of service. He leaves his wife of 55 years, Eva (MacCourtney) Duncan: his six children: Aileen Duncan, Kevin (LaVerne) and Rebecca Proctor (Tim), all of Altoona, Paul (Cindy) of Chester, Va., James of Hopewell, Va., and David (Rebecca) of Okinawa, Japan. His 17 grandchildren are: Dana and Carl Bookhamer, both currently serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq; Kevin, Amanda, Tyler Duncan and Tonya McCann; Alyssa, Rachel, Courtney and James Proctor; Mara, Caleb and Madison Duncan; Stephanie and Brian Duncan; Lance and Eli Duncan; and two great-granddaughters: Tara and Jackie McCann. He also is survived by two sisters: Constance Blackburn and Nancy (Nick) Villano; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Fred, Denny, Pete, Jim and Stu; and sisters: Valera Fox and Lucille Lytle. He was an ombudsman for Blair Senior Services and a volunteer for Call for Action. Joe was a longtime member of the Altoona Ambucs Club, Eldorado Kiwanis, Miracle League of Blair County and Central Pennsylvania National Guard Veterans Association. He was a Pennsylvania State ombudsman for the Employer Support for Guard and Reserve Association (ESGR) from whom he received the coveted ESGR 7 Seals Award in 2008. Joe also was a member of Park Hills and Heidelberg Country Clubs, as well as a lifetime member of the Bavarian Hall and the Unter Uns. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at The Stevens Mortuary Inc., 1421 Eighth Ave., Altoona, where a vigil for the deceased will be held. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church by Father D. Timothy Grimme. Committal will be at Calvary Cemetery.

Altoona Mirror, Wednesday, January 7, 2009