Bob Duncan was born on July 30, 1945, in Corpus Christi, Texas, and on November 24th he slipped peacefully from his farm home in Bismarck, Arkansas into the eternal presence of God. He was the son of Jesse Mae and Walter L. Duncan and was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Francis Dawson and Delores Jones, and nephews Bruce Dawson and Keith Jones. He leaves behind a family who adored him and whom he cherished: his beloved wife of 57 years, Donna Prince Duncan; sister Pat Bailey; daughters Laura Lockhart (Jordan) and Lisa Barron (Greg); grandchildren Mallory Grahn (Bryce), Duncan Lockhart, and Gavin Barron; great-grandson Crew Grahn;
and many nieces and nephews.
Bob made his profession of faith early in life and publicly committed himself to the ministry. It was a calling he honored with depth, humility, and joy. That commitment led him to Ouachita Baptist University in 1963, where he earned a degree in religion, followed by a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Theology from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth. He later completed a transformative year of post-graduate clinical pastoral training at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. There he gained the tools to offer comfort, clarity, and compassion to people in their most difficult hours.
For thirty-two years, Bob served faithfully as a chaplain in the Department of Pastoral Care at Baylor Medical Center. Earlier in his ministry, he pastored churches in Arkansas, Texas, and Colorado. These experiences shaped and sustained the core of his identity as a preacher of the gospel and an interpreter of Scripture. His greatest joy was his family. To his grandchildren, he was “GrandBob,” always ready to challenge them to ping-pong, golf, and cornhole tournaments, as well as backyard races. He took them on canoe trips, tubing adventures on the lake, and truck rides through the fields. He taught them to garden, to paint, to build, and to understand the meaning of hard work. His greatest hope was always that his family would flourish in their callings, and he delighted in watching how each of them were growing into their unique talents.
Bob and Donna were blessed to find a spiritual home at First Baptist Church Arkadelphia, where Bob served in the Kairos Prison Ministry, Arms Around Arkadelphia, Disaster Relief, Twin Rivers Nursing Home, and as a Bible teacher. He was also a member of the Wednesday night kitchen crew and served as a Deacon and Deacon chair. But perhaps his favorite role was greeting worshippers at the southeast entrance of the fellowship hall, a place where he could offer the assurance that every person was welcome. Bob was a loyal servant, a devoted husband, a wise friend, and a man who loved deeply and was deeply loved. His life was marked by faith, curiosity, humor, and integrity. Though he will be profoundly missed, his legacy endures in every life he touched, every family gathering he enriched, every patient he comforted, and every act of service he offered to his church and community.
May those who loved him find strength in the same faith that guided his steps, and may his memory be a reminder that a life lived with purpose, kindness, and joy continues to shine long after the work is done. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
• Arms Around Arkadelphia, First Baptist Church, 116 N. 7th St., Arkadelphia, AR 71923
• The Bob Duncan Service Project, All proceeds benefit the Malvern School District School-Based Health Center which provides medical and mental health services for students c/o HSC Democratic Committee, P.O. Box 1311, Malvern, AR 72104 (Make checks payable to Hot Spring County Democratic Committee.)
The family extends heartfelt appreciation to the Arkansas Hospice nurses and staff and to Helen Hughes and Norma Pilcher for their unwavering care, support, and love.