Kenneth R. Duncan

Kenneth Roberson Duncan, 93 passed away October 18, 2022, with family at his side. He was born October 13, 1929, to Russell Kenneth & Mildred May (Roberson) Duncan.

Kenneth was a graduate of Ben Davis High School (Wayne Township) in 1947. In 1950 Kenneth married the love of his life, Patricia Claire Moore. Shorly after marriage Kenneth served in Seabees in the United States Navy, stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during the Korea War in the early 1950’s. He was an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, a member of the Scottish Rite of Indianapolis, and a member of the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church.

Where Kenneth spent most of his time and career was at his father’s wholesale distribution businesses, Duncan Supply, where they sold refrigeration and HVAC parts and equipment. After spending just a short time at IUPUI, he got pulled away from school to help Russell and Ed Hunter keep the business operating. After his time in the Navy, Kenneth came back to help turn Duncan Supply into the company we all know. Upon the passing of Russell Duncan in 1983, he took over all company leadership until his retirement in 1999, and left the company operation to his right hand man, Rick Fine. During Kenneth’s tenure while active at Duncan Supply, he was a part of growing the company from 1 location to 6. Today, Duncan Supply stands at 11 branch locations with 165 employees. Ken Duncan became a pivotal member of organizations like ASHRAE and ARW (now HARDI) and he helped to shape what the HVAC/R industry looks like today. He alongside a dozen other distributors across the United States helped to form the Key Wholesaler Group, a group of like-minded refrigeration distributors who bought product together, and learned how to better their businesses from each other.

He is survived by his daughters Linda Claire (Gary) Hendricks and Lisa Kay (James) Green, 7 Grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded by his wife of 69 years Patricia Claire (Moore) Duncan, and both of his parents.

In Lieu of flowers we ask donations in Kenneth’s name be made of the Heroes Foundation, to support cancer locally in Indianapolis (http://www.heroesfoundation.org) and/or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (http://www.alzfdn.org).

A visitation with be 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, November 20, 2022, at the Duncan Supply Home Office at 910 N. Illinois Street in Indianapolis, with a formal Celebration of Life beginning at 2pm.

Kenneth and Patricia will be interred at Floral Park Cemetery in Indianapolis.