Danna Mae Duncan

Danna Mae Sharp Duncan, 92, of South Knoxville, TN won her hard fought battle with Alzheimer’s January 29, 2018. She will be welcomed home by our Heavenly Father and family who have gone home before her; her mother, Florence Kitzinger, father, Holbert Sharp, sister, Virginia Davis, Dearest daughter, Marita D. Vance, and Beloved husband, Ted W. Duncan. What a glorious celebratory reunion that will be! Now our job as her family and friends is to continue her fight in this war against Alzheimer’s but also to continue the legacy of Ted and Danna Duncan in service to our communities - especially the children.

Born in May of 1925, this delicate little doll was loved, guarded and yes terribly spoiled by her parents and her love and respect for them was beyond compare. Florence was a professional dance instructor and Holbert was a traveling salesman. Danna was taught to dance as soon as she could walk - can’t you just imagine what a cutie she must have been! As she grew she learned the piano, which she continued to play even in the last months of her beautiful life, she also found a fondness for basketball. She was on the basketball team while at Catholic High School. Along the way she learned to cook and oh my goodness could she cook! She made the most Amazing cinnamon bun every year on Christmas Eve; nothing is better than a hot, sticky cinnamon bun and a cold glass of milk to make you know it is Christmas with Mom and family.

Family - family was everything to Danna and thanks to a neighbor across the street - who by the way didn’t think she would be interested… - she met the man who would become the love of her life and together they created a beautiful family! Her Beloved was sent to the Korean War but not before they were married. While Ted was in basic training he found a Catholic priest to give him “training in the Catholic faith” so they could be married. This was all a surprise for Danna, he sent her a letter saying he was “all trained up now” and they could wed! Letters to and from for months then nothing, Danna didn’t know it but Ted had been taken prisoner of war. Thankfully, God gave him strength and courage to escape, assist his fellow prisoners and brought him safely back home to her and they started building their life together.

During the years, Danna was the Parish Council Secretary at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where she was a member till her passing. She was one of the founding members of Alive at 55. Danna worked at the YWCA in the office and pool area - she was able to use her business degree she had earned from Knoxville Business College. She was an avid gardener, the more color the better - loved watching westerns with Ted and she even got to go to the World’s Fair, she loved it. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother - those were her most favorite positions in life. She taught the kids to dance, they taught her Nintendo - she was really good at it by the way and later she was introduced to the Wii, Golf and Bowling were her sports of choice - she held high score in Golf. Then of course outside there was the swing, she loved to swing. Yes, she was cute kicking her little feet up and down!

Serving her community, especially children, was very important and to fulfill this desire she became a Foster Grandparent at the Boys and Girls Club in Vestal. Since 2009 she had logged over 6000 when she had to leave the program in June of 2016. In 2015, Mayor Tim Burchett ordered by Proclamation, August 7, 2015 as Danna Duncan Day in honor of her volunteer service to the community! She was so surprised!

During the last year of her beautiful life she didn’t stop… remember dancing? Well, she had to have an overnight evaluation and the nursing students came in to keep the residents entertained. They asked what she wanted to do; she said she wanted to dance! One of the said they didn’t know how and that’s all that needed to be said - it was dance class Danna style!

We love you, we miss you, our hearts are broken but we promise to continue on; your family, you have taught us well and we will not fail you. One day we will see you again!

To show how close these two people were in life and now in death, Ted passed 1-30, Danna 1-29 they both will be buried on 2-2… just 18 years apart. Amazing!

Sister Debbie Hatfield

Brother Kevin Sharp

Son Timothy and Daughter-in-Law, Vivian Duncan

Daughter Theresa and Son-in-Law, Joe Crosby

Son Matthew and Daughter-in-Law, Nikki Duncan

Son-in-Law, Jerry and Daughter-in-Law, Regina Vance

Grandchildren

Lynn Smart, wife Sharon

Amy Riddle, husband Jeff

Ali Webster, husband Joel

Christopher Crosby, fiance Lindsay

Elijah Rutherford, fiance Samantha

Faith Duncan

Great-Grandchildren

Maddie Smart

Marita Riddle

Ann Marie Riddle

Jacob Riddle

Vance Webster

Zakk Sweatman