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Leland Leroy “Lee” Duncan

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Leland Leroy “Lee” Duncan

Birth
Hanford, Kings County, California, USA
Death
20 Sep 1960 (aged 67)
Riverside, Riverside County, California, USA
Burial
Riverside, Riverside County, California, USA GPS-Latitude: 33.9801861, Longitude: -117.3880264
Plot
86-R
Memorial ID
View Source
"Rin Tin Tin Trainer
Lee Duncan Dies at 67
Founded Dynasty of Dog Film Stars
With Pup Found in World War I Trenches"
(Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep 1960)

Leland Leroy "Lee" Duncan, 67, owner and trainer of the famous family of Rin Tin Tins, German shepherd dogs, died of a heart attack on September 20, 1960 at his ranch home, El Rancho Rin Tin Tin," 2599 Field Lane, Riverside, where he had lived for 24 years. He was survived by his wife of 24 years, Eva Elaine Linden Duncan, and a daughter, Carolyn Lee. A previous marriage (1922-1927) with horse breeder Charlotte Anderson ended in divorce.

In France at the close of World War I, Duncan rescued a litter of German shepherd dogs abandoned in the trenches by the retreating Germans and brought them back to the United States. One of the pups became the famous original Rin Tin Tin who starred in 22 Warner Brothers films from 1922 until his death in 1932.

Rin Tin Tin dog and subsequent litters (including Rin Tin Tin, Jr., III, & IV) brought fame and fortune to Duncan. He gave original Rin Tin Tin's puppies to friends that included actresses Jean Harlow and Greta Garbo and cereal company founder W. K. Kellogg. Legend has it that the original Rin Tin Tin died in the arms of Jean Harlow who lived nearby.

Born at Hanford, California on Oct 1, 1892, Duncan spent some time in an Oakland orphanage after his father, George Grant Duncan, left the family in 1897. Later, Duncan and his sister Marjorie were able to rejoin their mother Elizabeth Ellis Duncan who married Oscar Sherman Sampson several years later. According to his bio on Internet Movie Database one of Leland Duncan's grandmothers was a Cherokee, and one grandfather had traveled west with Mormon pioneer Brigham Young.

Duncan was selling guns at B. H. Dyas Co., a large sporting goods store at 321-325 W. 7th St. in Los Angeles, when he enlisted in World War I on November 1, 1917. He was among the first 300 Americans sent to France in the 135th Air Squadron. According to his obituary, "he had charge of the squadron's ordinance and was the first American to synchronize machine gun fire through aircraft propellers." Wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart, Corporal Leland L. Duncan was honorably discharged from the United States Army on May 26, 1919

In World War II Duncan trained more than 5,000 war dogs for the Army K-9 Corps at Camp Hahn, California while continuing to train and enter the descendants of the original Rin Tin Tin in successive Hollywood movie roles.

Rin Tin Tin IV, starred in the beloved television series, "The Adventures of Tin Tin Tin" (1954-1959.

In Riverside Duncan was active in youth work. One of the many groups he aided was Boy Boy Scout Troop 2, sponsored by the First Baptist Church. Upon his untimely death, these Scouts reverently donned their uniforms and honored Duncan by attending his funeral services, which were conducted at the First Baptist Church of Riverside on Sept. 23, 1960.
An obituary was published in the Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep 1960.

Death
California Death Records
Name: Leland L Duncan
Birth: 1 Oct 1892 at California
Death: 20 Sep 1960 at Riverside Co.
Mother's Maiden Name: Ellis

1st Marriage
Groom: Leland Leroy Duncan
Bride: Charlotte Anderson
Marriage Date: 1922
Divorce Date: 1927

2nd Marriage
California Marriage Record
Groom: Leland Leroy Duncan
Bride: Eva Elaine Linden
Marriage Date: 20 Dec 1936
Place: Mariposa Co., California
Record Page: 51

Census
1940 Census, Palm Springs, Riverside, California; Desert Inn, April 19th
-Leland L. Duncan, 47, guest, b. CA, Farmer, own ranch, in 1935 lived at No. Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
-Eva E Duncan, 31, b. CA, in 1935 lived at San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA

1940 Census, Riverside, Riverside, California; 2599 [Field Ln], April 29th
-Leland L Duncan, 47, b. CA, rancher farming, in 1935 lived at Hollywood, CA
-Eva E Duncan, wife, 31, b. CA, in 1935 lived at San Pedro, CA
-Carolyn L Duncan, dau, 4 mo, b. CA

Wife
Eva Elaine Linden Duncan was born February 10, 1909 at the seaside town of San Pedro, California. Her parents were immigrants from Finland.

Eva married Leland Leroy Duncan in 1936. They lived together in their ranch home, "El Rancho Rin Tin Tin," 2599 Field Lane, Riverside, until Leland's sudden death in 1960. Their union was blessed with a daughter Carolyn Lee Duncan. While in Riverside, Eva worked as a private secretary for E.T. Wall Growers and Shippers on 3230 Vine in Riverside. Later she moved to Redding, California and finally to Davison, Michigan to be near her daughter.

Eva died at the age of 91 on December 26, 2000 at Whispering Pines Adult Foster Care in Lapeer, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband Leland Leroy Duncan (1892-1960), parents Victor (1878-1958) & Olga Linden (1885-1950), and sister Ruth Mable Linden Parr (1907-1968).
She was survived by daughter Carolyn Lee (Mrs. Ronald B) McHenry of Davison, Michigan.
Arrangements were handled by Muir Brothers Funeral Home in Lapeer.

Social Security Death Index
Name: Eva E. Duncan
Born: 10 Feb 1909
Died: 26 Dec 2000
Last Residence: Redding, Shasta, California
SSN issued: California (Before 1951)

Mother
Elizabeth Ellis
Born Springfield, Missouri
Mrs George Grant Duncan
Mrs Oscar Sherman Sampson

Sister
California Death Records
Name: Marjorie Duncan Baker
Birth: 20 Oct 1894 at California
Death: 13 Dec 1980 at Los Angeles Co.
Mother's Maiden Name: Ellis
Father's Surname: Duncan
SSDI: Last residence Glendale, CA

California Marriage Record
Groom: Harry Vernett Baker, 30, born El Monte, CA; resides Lankershim, CA; occupation meat business
Bride: Marjorie Emogine Duncan, 27, born Springville, Tulare, CA; resides Lankershim, CA; occupation music teacher
Marriage Date: 25 Jun 1923
Place: Santa Ana, Orange, California
Groom's Father: B F Baker, b. IL
Groom's Mother: Mary Rush, b. IA
Bride's Father: Grant Duncan
Bride's Mother: Elizabeth Ellis, b. Springfield, MO
Married by: William Everett Roberts, Pastor First 1st Presbyterian Church, Santa Ana
Page: 69
"Rin Tin Tin Trainer
Lee Duncan Dies at 67
Founded Dynasty of Dog Film Stars
With Pup Found in World War I Trenches"
(Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep 1960)

Leland Leroy "Lee" Duncan, 67, owner and trainer of the famous family of Rin Tin Tins, German shepherd dogs, died of a heart attack on September 20, 1960 at his ranch home, El Rancho Rin Tin Tin," 2599 Field Lane, Riverside, where he had lived for 24 years. He was survived by his wife of 24 years, Eva Elaine Linden Duncan, and a daughter, Carolyn Lee. A previous marriage (1922-1927) with horse breeder Charlotte Anderson ended in divorce.

In France at the close of World War I, Duncan rescued a litter of German shepherd dogs abandoned in the trenches by the retreating Germans and brought them back to the United States. One of the pups became the famous original Rin Tin Tin who starred in 22 Warner Brothers films from 1922 until his death in 1932.

Rin Tin Tin dog and subsequent litters (including Rin Tin Tin, Jr., III, & IV) brought fame and fortune to Duncan. He gave original Rin Tin Tin's puppies to friends that included actresses Jean Harlow and Greta Garbo and cereal company founder W. K. Kellogg. Legend has it that the original Rin Tin Tin died in the arms of Jean Harlow who lived nearby.

Born at Hanford, California on Oct 1, 1892, Duncan spent some time in an Oakland orphanage after his father, George Grant Duncan, left the family in 1897. Later, Duncan and his sister Marjorie were able to rejoin their mother Elizabeth Ellis Duncan who married Oscar Sherman Sampson several years later. According to his bio on Internet Movie Database one of Leland Duncan's grandmothers was a Cherokee, and one grandfather had traveled west with Mormon pioneer Brigham Young.

Duncan was selling guns at B. H. Dyas Co., a large sporting goods store at 321-325 W. 7th St. in Los Angeles, when he enlisted in World War I on November 1, 1917. He was among the first 300 Americans sent to France in the 135th Air Squadron. According to his obituary, "he had charge of the squadron's ordinance and was the first American to synchronize machine gun fire through aircraft propellers." Wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart, Corporal Leland L. Duncan was honorably discharged from the United States Army on May 26, 1919

In World War II Duncan trained more than 5,000 war dogs for the Army K-9 Corps at Camp Hahn, California while continuing to train and enter the descendants of the original Rin Tin Tin in successive Hollywood movie roles.

Rin Tin Tin IV, starred in the beloved television series, "The Adventures of Tin Tin Tin" (1954-1959.

In Riverside Duncan was active in youth work. One of the many groups he aided was Boy Boy Scout Troop 2, sponsored by the First Baptist Church. Upon his untimely death, these Scouts reverently donned their uniforms and honored Duncan by attending his funeral services, which were conducted at the First Baptist Church of Riverside on Sept. 23, 1960.
An obituary was published in the Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep 1960.

Death
California Death Records
Name: Leland L Duncan
Birth: 1 Oct 1892 at California
Death: 20 Sep 1960 at Riverside Co.
Mother's Maiden Name: Ellis

1st Marriage
Groom: Leland Leroy Duncan
Bride: Charlotte Anderson
Marriage Date: 1922
Divorce Date: 1927

2nd Marriage
California Marriage Record
Groom: Leland Leroy Duncan
Bride: Eva Elaine Linden
Marriage Date: 20 Dec 1936
Place: Mariposa Co., California
Record Page: 51

Census
1940 Census, Palm Springs, Riverside, California; Desert Inn, April 19th
-Leland L. Duncan, 47, guest, b. CA, Farmer, own ranch, in 1935 lived at No. Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
-Eva E Duncan, 31, b. CA, in 1935 lived at San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA

1940 Census, Riverside, Riverside, California; 2599 [Field Ln], April 29th
-Leland L Duncan, 47, b. CA, rancher farming, in 1935 lived at Hollywood, CA
-Eva E Duncan, wife, 31, b. CA, in 1935 lived at San Pedro, CA
-Carolyn L Duncan, dau, 4 mo, b. CA

Wife
Eva Elaine Linden Duncan was born February 10, 1909 at the seaside town of San Pedro, California. Her parents were immigrants from Finland.

Eva married Leland Leroy Duncan in 1936. They lived together in their ranch home, "El Rancho Rin Tin Tin," 2599 Field Lane, Riverside, until Leland's sudden death in 1960. Their union was blessed with a daughter Carolyn Lee Duncan. While in Riverside, Eva worked as a private secretary for E.T. Wall Growers and Shippers on 3230 Vine in Riverside. Later she moved to Redding, California and finally to Davison, Michigan to be near her daughter.

Eva died at the age of 91 on December 26, 2000 at Whispering Pines Adult Foster Care in Lapeer, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband Leland Leroy Duncan (1892-1960), parents Victor (1878-1958) & Olga Linden (1885-1950), and sister Ruth Mable Linden Parr (1907-1968).
She was survived by daughter Carolyn Lee (Mrs. Ronald B) McHenry of Davison, Michigan.
Arrangements were handled by Muir Brothers Funeral Home in Lapeer.

Social Security Death Index
Name: Eva E. Duncan
Born: 10 Feb 1909
Died: 26 Dec 2000
Last Residence: Redding, Shasta, California
SSN issued: California (Before 1951)

Mother
Elizabeth Ellis
Born Springfield, Missouri
Mrs George Grant Duncan
Mrs Oscar Sherman Sampson

Sister
California Death Records
Name: Marjorie Duncan Baker
Birth: 20 Oct 1894 at California
Death: 13 Dec 1980 at Los Angeles Co.
Mother's Maiden Name: Ellis
Father's Surname: Duncan
SSDI: Last residence Glendale, CA

California Marriage Record
Groom: Harry Vernett Baker, 30, born El Monte, CA; resides Lankershim, CA; occupation meat business
Bride: Marjorie Emogine Duncan, 27, born Springville, Tulare, CA; resides Lankershim, CA; occupation music teacher
Marriage Date: 25 Jun 1923
Place: Santa Ana, Orange, California
Groom's Father: B F Baker, b. IL
Groom's Mother: Mary Rush, b. IA
Bride's Father: Grant Duncan
Bride's Mother: Elizabeth Ellis, b. Springfield, MO
Married by: William Everett Roberts, Pastor First 1st Presbyterian Church, Santa Ana
Page: 69


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