Col. Ralph Duncan Obituary

Col. Ralph Edgar Duncan (Ret.) age 80, of Cumming, GA passed away on September 27th, 2024. He was born on November 18th, 1943, in Memphis, TN, to the late Ralph Hugh and Mary Virginia Duncan. As a boy, he grew up in Mayfield, KY, with a deep love of his family and the outdoors. As a young man he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Ralph later graduated from Georgetown College in Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in Math and Physics. He earned a master’s degree in business management from Webster University and as a United States Air Force officer he earned additional degrees from the Air Command and Staff College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Col. Duncan lived a life of service. He proudly served in the United States Air Force for 29 years as a Command Fighter Pilot, Support Commander, and Acquisition Management Officer. His tours of duty included: Republic of Vietnam, where he flew 264 flight combat missions over both North and South Vietnam; USAFE in England and Germany; Texas; Ohio, as the Manager of the F-16 Flight Test Program at Wright Patterson AFB; California, as Squadron Commander, then Base Commander at George AFB; Nevada, as Commander of the Nellis AFB Range and Test Site in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm; and the US Embassy in Mexico City, as the Military Liaison Officer.

Throughout his career, Col. Duncan earned numerous decorations, citations and medals including: The Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Special Operations Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, and an Exceptional Service Award from the National Air Force Association.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, Col. Duncan continued to serve his communities. He became a high school math teacher, a position he held for 20 years. In Elk Grove, CA, he was nominated and served as the California teacher liaison to the National Space Foundation. After 10 years of teaching math at Florin HIgh School in Elk Grove, CA, he moved to Georgia, where he continued teaching math at Etowah High School. Upon his second retirement, he enjoyed tutoring with the Alpha-Omega Program at First Baptist Church.

Although Ralph lived a lifetime of service to his fellow man, he will be most remembered as a man of faith who loved his church, a loving husband, father, a proud grandfather, all around family man, and friend to all. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Sandy Duncan; children, Kim (George) Lasko, Matthew (Rachel) Duncan; grandchildren, Alexandra Lasko (Parker Foy), George Lasko, and Trevor Duncan; brother, Jim (Vernita) Duncan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Cumming on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024, at 2:00 PM, with Rev. Ken Danuser officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Cumming, GA: Acts 1:8 Fund, or the Wounded Warrior Project in memory of (Ret.) Col.

Ralph Duncan at: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.

Ingram Funeral Home, 210 Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed online at ingramfuneralhome.com.