Vance L. Duncan, Jr., 90, of Shippenville, passed away peacefully Friday morning, April 12, 2024 at Nightingale Nursing and Rehab Center in Erie, PA.
The Lord looked down and saw that he was getting tired and lonely for the light and love of his life, Mary A. Duncan, for whom he had taken from him.
He put his arms around him and said “Come with me to my garden to rejoin the light and love of your life whom you lived for faithfully and compassionately all of your life”.
Vance was born on February 13, 1934 in Sewickley, PA; son of the late Vannce L Duncan, Sr. and Velma Rose Etzel Duncan.
He was the last living grandchild of Emma Etzel.
Vance graduated from Shippenville Joint High School and then attended Clarion State College in 1956 where he was a member of Delta Kappa National Fraternity.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education.
Vance was a self-employed house painter during high school and college and also did sales and deliveries for American Fire Apparatus in Lower Burrell, PA.
He proudly served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958.
Vance completed Basic Training in Fort Jackson, SC and Armor Training in Fort Benning and Fort Stewart, GA.
He served Active Reserve for the 323rd Chemical Company from 1958 to 1960 and Inactive Reserve from 1960 to 1962.
Vance then served active duty for 16 months in Schweinfurt, Germany where he was a part of the 714th Medical Tank Battalion, 3rd Medical Tank Battalion, and 7th US Army.
Vance married the love of his life, Mary A. Schupp, on October 8, 1960 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Lucinda,
who preceded him in death on August 28, 2014.
He worked at Owens Illinois Glass Plant #17 in Clarion for 31 years, retiring in 1993.
Vance was a member of the Gold Emblem and Owens Illinois Club.
He was also a member of the Saint Michaels Catholic Church in Fryburg and the Knights of Columbus at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Lucinda.
Vance was in the fire service for 72 years, starting in 1952 and was a volunteer firefighter for 59 years.
He was former Fire Chief at Shippenville-Elk Township Volunteer Fire Department from 1960 to 1985 where he was also a lifetime member, assistant chief, vice president, secretary, and one of the first certified ambulance technicians in the area.
He was a lifetime member of the Strattanville Volunteer Fire Company since 1988 where he was also Fire Police.
Vance was selected Delegate for both fire departments.
He was also a lifetime member of the Clarion County Fireman’s Association and a member of the National Fire Academy Alumni Association of Emmitsburg, MD.
Vance was an active member of the NRA, Antler Club of Lucinda, Fryburg Sportsman’s Club, American Legion Post #720 of Knox,
and Clarion County Gun Club of Knox.
He enjoyed camping with his wife, sons, and grandchildren at Deer Meadow Campground in Cook Forest, gardening, cutting firewood and reading Civil War history.
He was a jack of all trades and always consulted on the history of Shippenville and the local area.
Vance was most known for the selling of raffle tickets for many local organizations and was nicknamed “The Ticket Man”.
He is survived by his sons, Vance L. Duncan III and his wife, Kathleen, and Tedd M. Duncan and his wife, Elaine, all of Erie; his granddaughter, Kimberly Lynn Duncan of Wisconsin; and his grandson, Samuel Vance Duncan and his wife, Madelyn, of Missouri.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff and nurses at Nightingale Nursing and Rehab Center.
Family and friends will be received from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at the Robert V. Burns Funeral Home in
Clarion.
Military Honors will be accorded by the American Legion Post #066 of Clarion at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in the funeral home with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at Saint Michaels Catholic Church in Fryburg at 10 a.m. with Rev. Michael Polinek presiding.
Interment will take place beside his beloved wife in Saint Michaels Catholic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Vance’s honor to Shippenville-Elk Township Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 160, Shippenville, PA 16254, Strattanville Volunteer Fire Company, PO Box 93, Strattanville, PA 16258, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, PO Drawer 498, Emmitsburg, MD 21727 or online at firehero.org or the Clarion Forest VNA, 271 Perkins Road, Clarion, PA 16214.
Online condolences can be sent to the family by visiting www.rvburnsfuneralhome.com.
