Ed J. Duncan, Area Coach, Educator, Dies

March 20, 1903 - March 31, 1971

Edwin J. Duncan, 67, of Lucasville Rt. 5, retired executive head of the Minford Local School District, died at 5:45 a.m. today in Mercy Hospital.

He had been a patient in the hospital since March 8.

Duncan retired in 1961 after 25 years of service in the Minford Local School District as a teacher, athletic coach and an executive head.

He also had been a veteran football and basketball official and was a member, an elder and former deacon at First United Presbyterian Church, Third and Court Sts.

Duncan, a native of Scioto County, was graduated from Miami University at Oxford and obtained his Marster's Degree after graduate study at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Wisconsin.

He began his career as a teacher and athletic coach in Manchester in Adams County.  He later served in both capacities at the former McDermott High School before joining the Minford Local School District in the middle 1930's.

Duncan was a member of the Lucasville Masonic Lodge and the Retired Teachers Association.  He was a life member of the Southeastern Ohio Football and Basketball Officials Association.

The former Minford executive head also was past president of the Portsmouth Chapter of the Southeastern Ohio Officials Association and a member of the Ohio Association of Football Officials, Ohio Association of Basketball Officials Association and the Kentucky High School Officials Association.

Duncan is survived by his wife, Mrs. Margaret Temple Duncan, and a daughter, Mrs. Ruth Ann Samuelson of Rapid City, South Dakota.

Funeral services are to be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Evan Fisher officiation.  Interment is to be in Rushtown Cemetery.

Friends may call at Daehler Funeral Home from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.  Masonic services are to be conducted at 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

The family's favorite charity is the First United Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund. 

MEMORIAL - The Portsmouth Times, June 2, 1971, p. 10 :

As a memory to the late Edwin Duncan the Alumni Association of Minford High School has presented a montage to the Minford Middle School.  Harold Allen presented the montage, depicting some of the interests of the late Minford educator, to William Boyer principal of the Middle School.

Duncan, who died in March of this year, began his teaching career in Rush Township in 1924.  He taught industrial arts at Minford in 1935, became principal in 1937 and executive head in 1938 until he retired in 1961.  He was an athletic coach early in his career and an official of statewaide note.