Thomas Owen Duncan

Thomas Owen Duncan, 90, died peacefully on February 7, 2019, surrounded by his family who cherished his love, kindness, creativity, enthusiasm, and sense of humor. Tom was born in Washington, D.C., on June 5, 1928, to William Wirt and Delta Given (Bahrenburg) Duncan. His family moved to Oklahoma City, where he graduated from Classen High School in 1946. Two days after graduation he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served for three years as an aircraft armorer in fighter squadron VMF 323 (Death Rattlers) at El Toro Marine Air Station. He continued his education following military service, graduating from Oklahoma A&M College with a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation. Tom's 30 year career as a Fishery Research Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service included assignments at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma; Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park; in Alaska at Cook Inlet, Bristol Bay and Lake Tustumena; and at Seattle's Montlake Fishery Laboratory. He met Margaret Anne (Peg) Officer while stationed in Seattle and they married in 1956, in West Bend, Iowa. Following a brief period at the Department of the Interior in Washington, DC, Tom and Peg moved to Arkansas in 1962, where he served as Chief of the South Central Reservoir Investigations at Beaver Reservoir and later at DeGray Lake in Arkadelphia where he and Peg made their home more than 40 years. An artist and collector, Tom loved waterfowl, hunting and fishing, books, antiques, gardening, painting, drawing, carving birds, and writing about these interests. He drew inspiration for his wildlife drawings and paintings from artist Bob Hines, his friend and colleague. Following retirement, he studied art at Henderson State University. His artwork won recognition as Best of Show at the Festival of Two Rivers in Arkadelphia and was twice selected for the Delta Art Exhibit at the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock. Tom was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville, the Caddo River Art Guild and a former board member of Group Living Inc. in Arkadelphia. He belonged to the First United Methodist Church of Arkadelphia. Tom is survived by his wife Peg, their daughters Susan Margaret Daniell (Douglas) of Eugene, Ore.; Catherine Anne Duncan (Darryl Wise) of St. Augustine, Fla.; Sarah Jane Riley (Kevin) of Hot Springs, Ark.; Nancy Jo Duncan (Kathy Hurley) of Asheville, N.C.; and grandsons, Owen Daniell, Guinness Riley, and Finnegan Riley. He was preceded in death by his brother William W. Duncan Jr. A visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Arkadelphia on Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m.