DUNCAN

Alvin (Al) Wayne Duncan, passed away in Columbus, Ohio, on June 6, 2026. Born in Hammond, Indiana, on December 2, 1964 to Anthony Wayne Duncan and Ella Mae Eliott, who both preceded him. He moved from Indiana to California as a young boy. Following the untimely passing of Al’s father in 1975, Al’s mother married John Tomko in 1976, who was in the U.S. Army, stationed in Fort Ord, California. The family then relocated to Berlin, Germany. In 1979, they moved to Hawaii. Al graduated from Radford High School in 1983. During his time in high school, Al participated in baseball and was a Bat Boy for the Hawaiian Islanders Minor League Team.

Al joined the U.S. Army in Seattle, Washington. He took basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and was then transferred to Ft. Knox, KY with training as a combat engineer. While at Ft. Knox, KY, Al met Anita Dell King in 1984. Al and Anita married April 25, 1985. They transferred to Dexheim, Germany in 1986, returning to Ft. Knox in 1989. Al deployed to the middle east seeing action in Operation Desert Storm. Following Desert Storm, he was reassigned to Wildflicken, Germany, in 1989, then was assigned to Ft. Lewis, Washington. Al attended multiple education courses during the years 1990 through 1997, culminating his completion of Drill Sergeant School in 1997. Al was assigned to Ft. Jackson, Columbia, SC as a Drill Sergeant from 1997 to 1999. Following his time on the trail, Al was assigned to Ft Carson, CO. During his tour in Colorado, Al was assigned to the DMZ in South Korea for 15 months. Following his return stateside, in 2004, Al transferred to Lexington, KY, where he completed his Army career as an ROTC Instructor at the University of Kentucky. Al retired from the U.S. Army, in 2006, with the rank of Master Sergeant following 22 years, 5 months of distinguished service. Al attended multiple military education schools and earned numerous decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons, which included Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), Army Achievement Medal (12th Award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), South West Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star (3rd Award).

Following retirement from the military, Al was hired as Cemetery Director to design and develop Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North located in Williamstown, KY, a position he held for 10 years. He then became Director of the State Veterans Cemeteries, Kentucky Department of Veterans’ Affairs, based in Frankfort, KY. Al retired from the Kentucky Department of Veterans’ Affairs in July, 2025, following 19 years of service to veterans from the state of Kentucky.

Al enjoyed all sports, especially, University of Kentucky basketball and football. He enjoyed fishing, and shooting and was an active member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. Al loved riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle on the roads of Kentucky and across the US. Trips included Nova Scotia, Sturgis, South Dakota, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park, just to name a few.

Al is survived by his wife of 41 years, Anita Duncan (Lexington, KY), father John Tomko (Reno, NV), three sisters, Annette Pedrina (Joel), Kailua, HI, Susan Tomko, Martinez, CA, and Shelly Hughes (John), Las Vegas, NV. He is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, 3421 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, KY, on Sunday, June 14th, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, June 15th. Graveside service will be 1:00 pm, at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North, in Williamstown, KY, with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Project Healing Waters, Project 22, K9s for Warriors, Inc., and Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA).

MSG Alvin W. Duncan was a soldier’s soldier. He loved his country, his family, friends and his brothers-in-arms. He will be missed.

So long, Sapper, for now!