Kenneth Earl Duncan

Our Dad, Kenneth Earl Duncan, passed peacefully the morning of Christmas Eve at his home in Wasco. His final day was one filled with family, and fittingly the last voice he heard was our Mom's, his bride of 68 years – high school sweethearts.

Dad was born in Woodland on Dec. 29, 1935, but grew up and lived most of his life in his hometown of Wasco. He was in the graduating class of 1954 and figured prominently in the Tiger's Valley Football Championship season of 1953. He was also active in FFA, exhibiting the Grand Champion market steer at the 1952 California State Fair.

On May 26, 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, the great love of his life, Leona Gentry, and set off on their life adventure producing three children, Wesley, Debbie and Kelly.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a 4H swine leader for 40 years, along with Mom. The Kern County Fair dedicated the swine auction to them following their retirement as leaders.

After his retirement from Belridge / Shell Oil Co. where he worked as an electrician for 32 years, he and Mom toured fairs and livestock shows exhibiting his swine breeding stock until the practice was discontinued by the state.

He was always generous with his time, a strong and tough man throughout his life, and would be out cutting and splitting wood or maintaining his property right up to the end. Working hard is just something he liked to do. He passed from this life as he lived his entire life, on his own terms.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Ruby Duncan of Wasco, grandparents John and Elisabeth Koop of Shafter, Joe and Daisy Duncan of Arkansas and son in law Scott Jones of Wasco.

He is survived by his wife Leona of Wasco, and his children Wesley (Debra) of Bakersfield, and Debbie and Kelly of Wasco along with his grandchildren Diana (Tim), Angie (Andy), Shannon (Ryan), Lys (Theresa), all of Bakersfield, and Kelly (Gilbert) of Wasco. Also by his great grandchildren Elijah (Lupe), Gabriel, Ruby, Sadie and Dessa, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A giant thank you to granddaughter #3 Kelly for being the strong one in the family and seeing to Dad, and to Jimmy Dunlap for his deep and abiding friendship with him.

Our Dad, Papa to his grandkids, will be greatly missed and held in our hearts forever.

Per his wishes there will not be a public service, but if you wish to honor him in some way, please support your local 4H, FFA and Independent exhibitors.