Leland Duncan

Leland R. Duncan, 95, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at his home surrounded by family, due to complications from lymphoma.

Leland was born Nov. 9, 1929, on a farm in Van Buren County, Arkansas, to Enoch and Julia (Lane) Duncan. It was the Depression era, and Leland grew up chopping cotton and plowing fields with a team of mules.

Leland attended Southside High School in Bee Branch, Arkansas, and played on the basketball team. He was a veteran, serving in the Korean War with the United States Army.

On May 28, 1952, five days after he returned from Korea, Leland married Ruth Tindall in Damascus, Arkansas, after he persuaded the preacher to stop plowing long enough to marry them. After his service in the Army, he and Ruth moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas, where he became a television and radio technician and opened his own repair business.

In 1959, Leland accepted a call to the ministry with the General Baptist denomination and moved to Indiana where he attended Oakland City College, receiving a B.A. degree. From 1959 to 1969, he pastored churches in Augusta and Spurgeon, Indiana; Heber Springs, Arkansas; and Owensboro, Kentucky. In 1969, Leland and his family moved to Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where he became pastor of the First General Baptist Church.

During his pastorate, Leland developed a strong interest in home missions, and, in 1971, he accepted a position as Executive Director of General Baptist Home Missions, a position he held for 26 years. He soon realized that the denomination needed a way to fund the start-up of new mission churches, and so he became the founder and first president of the General Baptist Investment Fund. To date the General Baptist Investment Fund has assisted with the financing of hundreds of churches and now has assets in excess of $63,000,000.

During his ministry, Leland served on various boards and wrote numerous articles for the denomination, including a book he co-authored with Ed Runyon: The Journey with General Baptists. He was Chairman of the Survey Commission during which time the General Baptist Statements of Faith were re-written. In 1974, he received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Oakland City University.

Leland was a charter member of Fellowship General Baptist Church, where he served as part of the pastoral team that led the church during its first few years of existence.

Leland was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arkansas Razorbacks. He also enjoyed fishing, gardening, and bird feeding, but his greatest enjoyment came from his family, and especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His 6-foot 4-inch frame and his silver-white hair always made him stand out in a crowd. He was a man of steadfast faith and integrity, and an excellent orator. He was physically strong, yet mild mannered, and his quiet, friendly demeanor endeared him to his family and his many friends.

Leland is survived by his wife of 72 years, Ruth; two sons, Wally (Kathy) Duncan of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Greg (Mariela) Duncan of Phuket, Thailand; five grandchildren, Eric (Cristina) Duncan, Natalie (Ben) Gunning, Nicole (Andrew) Hewitt, Sophie Duncan, and Alex Duncan; four great-grandchildren, Connor Duncan, Everleigh Hewitt, Axel Gunning, and Ruby Gunning; along with numerous nieces and nephews and many friends.

Leland was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Thurman Duncan; sisters, Verda McCall and Euna Atkinson LeMay; and infant son, David Warren Duncan.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, at Fellowship General Baptist Church, followed by funeral services at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, with Byron Beck and Ernie Rogers officiating. The burial will take place at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri, with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Faithful Milers Sunday School Class at Fellowship General Baptist Church, 3581 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis.

Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services is honored to serve the family and friends of Leland Ray Duncan.

Online condolences can be made at www.cwrfcs.com.