Thurman Duncan

On May 29, 2026, Thurman “Dunk” Duncan, age 99, went to his Heavenly home. Born on April 24, 1927, in the Cowart’s community of Jackson County, North Carolina, to Lena Mae Nicholson Duncan and Lucius Perry Duncan, Dunk was the last of six siblings – Virgil Kermit Duncan, Robert Duncan, Florence Mae Duncan Lewis, James Leonard “J.L” Duncan Sr, and his twin brother Herman Duncan, Marvin Madden, JT Madden, and Paul Lewis, all of whom preceded him in death. Dunk leaves behind his bride of 75 years, Mary Dorothy “Dot” Madden Duncan. He is also survived by his daughter, Linda Gail Duncan Bagwell, and her husband Danny “Bo”; his granddaughter Kerri Bagwell McKinney and her husband David; and his great-grandchildren Landan McKinney and Sadie McKinney, who brought him the greatest joy of his later years all of Easley, SC. He also leaves behind his son by love, Michael Chapman, also of Easley, SC; and his two sisters-in-law, Yvonne Madden Ross, of Ormond Beach, FL and Peggy Cole. Madden of Pickens, SC. Mr. Duncan was a member of Holly Springs Baptist Church in Pickens, South Carolina for many years. The kindness and love he spread will be rewarded with a resounding “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done” Mr. Duncan, a veteran, has a military record that demonstrates clearly his love of this country. He served in World War II, then again during the Korean War, in two branches of service – the United States Army and the United States Air Force, and he capped it all off with ten additional years in the Air Force Reserve. Mr. Duncan represents the very best of a generation that counted it as honor to defend American values. After the military, Dunk drove an 18- wheeler and didn’t climb out of that cab until he was well into his eighties. He hauled loads across America, down into Mexico, and up into Canada millions of miles. Incredibly, he did it all without a single accident. Then he retired. He pulled out of the OJ’s parking lot in Easley, South Carolina, and Had his very first fender-bender. He laughed about that story every time he told it. That was our ever-happy Dunk: a man who could drive through three countries without a scratch, only to be undone by a restaurant parking lot and find it hilarious. Dunk had a legendary sweet tooth. The man could consume incredible amounts of sweets (especially cake and milkshakes) and not a single ounce of weight gained from any of it. Maybe that’s exactly why he was such a “sweetheart”. If you saw Thurman Duncan, the odds were overwhelming that you saw him talking, laughing, and smiling. His disposition was always so humble, friendly and kind to every person who had the pleasure of meeting him. As his great-granddaughter Sadie put it, with wisdom beyond her years: “I’m going to miss you more than words could explain, Papa. But through all the heartbreak, I’m so thankful for the peace and assurance of knowing I’ll get to see you again one day. Until then, I’ll make sure to drink a milkshake for you.” A visitation will be held at 12PM (Noon) in the chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home with a Graveside to follow at 1PM at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Duncan family.

Thurman Duncan

April 24, 1927 - May 29, 2026