Phyllis Stewart Bell Duncan passed away on November 18, 2019, at the age of 93, in Cary, NC. She was born on May 8, 1926, to Andrew and Thelma Bell, in Tiltonsville, OH. She was predeceased by her parents and her husband Lawrence Duncan.
Phyllis graduated from Warren Consolidated High School in Tiltonsville, OH, and from Elliott Business School in Wheeling, WV. Following her education, she worked in retail sales at Stone and Thomas in Wheeling. During WWII, she worked at Blaw Knox, a foundry that produced materials vital to the war. Following the war, she went to work at King’s Jewelry Store in Wheeling. During her time there, she met Lawrence Duncan, who had just returned from his tour in the Pacific. They were married in September of 1946. In September of 1947, their daughter Jan was born. Phyllis enjoyed her time as a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church and as a volunteer for Jan’s many activities during those school years. She returned to work outside of the home when Jan went to WVU. During this time, she found a new career she enjoyed, as a dental assistant. As years passed, Lawrence earned a patent for an electronic device and started Duncan Electronics. During these final years of work until their retirement, Phyllis supported her husband in the family business. Upon their retirement, they moved to Clayton, NC, in 2000, to be close to their daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. After Lawrence passed away in 2003, Phyllis became involved in the Woman’s Club and Clayton Visual Arts. As her health declined, she moved to Phoenix Assisted Care, in Cary, NC, in 2016.
She is survived by her daughter Jan Hardison and son-in-law Terry, her granddaughter Ellyn Rhodes and Ellyn’s husband Joel, Terry’s children Lauren, Patrick, and Andrew and their families, her cousin Thomas Bell and his family, and a special and close friend Sue Amos DeVaul, who also moved from Wheeling, WV, to NC.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Phoenix Assisted Care in Cary, Doctors Making House Calls, or Heartland Hospice.
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