Harold (Hal) Duncan

From: Dan Duncan (Hal's son):

Harold Ellsworth Duncan was born on November 3, 1928, in Paducah, Kentucky, to his father, Harold Duncan Sr. and mother Dorothy Hicks.

His family moved from Kentucky to Illinois in 1937, where he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America. From there, the family moved to Davenport, Iowa, in the 1940's, where he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He served as a B29 Radar Technician following WWII and was recalled for the Korean Conflict. He spent time in England, Guam, and the U.S.

He returned home and finished his studies in Engineering at Iowa State University in 1953. Harold took a position with Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica. He would go on to serve a long career in aerospace at Edwards Air Force Base; recieving numerous awards and recognitions.  In his early years at the Base, he worked with the Base’s medical director to instrument X-15 pilots physiological data. He invented the EKG to capture data on heart reaction to the stresses they were subject to.  

Harold met his bride, Josette Marcelle Condouret, in Santa Monica on a blind date. The couple married on March 5, 1955, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Their children, David, Lisa, and Dan, brought joy to their life. In retirement, he enjoyed reading, gardening, traveling, camping, being outdoors with his pet dogs and cats, and spending time with his family. He remained curious about everything in life.

Harold is preceded in death by wife, Josette (2019), and sister, Dolores (2023). He is survived by brother Robert, three children, five grandchildren: Raine and Sandon (Suzanne), Courtney and Sean, and Luke (Sarah); and 2 great-grandchildren, Scarlett and Louis.

Harold passed away on January 13, 2026, at the age of 97 and was laid to rest at Joshua Memorial Park, Lancaster, California, surrounded by family and friends

From Edwards Reunion website:

This is photo of Hal, and of Hal with his Red Hat buddies at the 2024 Edwards Reunion.