Dr. William "Kit" Christopher Duncan

On Saturday, November 12, 2022, after 87 amazing years surrounded by family and holding the hand of his wife of 39 years, Evalyn, William Christopher “Kit” Duncan passed away at Lakeland Regional Health Palliative Care.

Born April 5, 1935 in Webster, South Dakota, a small farming community, the first born son to William and Katharine Peabody Duncan. He attended the University of South Dakota and graduated from Baylor College of Medicine, following in the footsteps of his father, both grandfathers and two uncles who were all physicians. He proudly served aboard the U.S.S. Navarro in the US Navy as the ship’s physician and returned to Baylor College of Medicine to train in Dermatology. He practiced dermatology for 47 years, initially in Houston, Texas while serving as a full time faculty member of BCM. He was a member of the Dermatological Society and even served as President in 1987. He was the recipient of the first ever Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service for his development of a Hansen’s disease (leprosy) free clinic to serve the immigrants from Southeast Asia. In 1987, he and Evalyn moved to Lakeland, Florida where he joined the Watson Clinic working well into his golden years including his volunteering at Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine.

Kit loved most anything outdoors, especially fishing with his wife and hunting pheasant and waterfowl with his sons. He took great pride in his yard and could always be seen tending to his many flowers, doing all his own maintenance well into his 80’s. He was a master in the kitchen, loved cooking for his family and friends wherever he went, and passed his love of cooking on to his children and grandchildren. Kit was a stranger to no one, being authentic and wholehearted to everyone who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

He is survived by his wife Evalyn, his children Kae Kessler (Joe) of Appomattox, Brian Duncan (Shara) of San Diego, CA, Melynda Wasson of Lakeland, Florida, Valerie Wayman (Jake) of Arlington, Virginia, Will Wasson of Houston, TX and Eric Wasson of Lakeland, FL and three grandchildren, Bradley Winter, Kaelyn Kessler and Lila Fisler-Duncan.

Kit was predeceased by a daughter Patrice and a son Chris, brother Bing and twin sisters, Helen and Inez and his beloved dachshund, Calvin.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Lakeland, Florida at 10:00 a.m.

Although he loved flowers and would always remind people to stop and smell the flowers, he would please ask you to make donations to either Saint Stephen’s Church or Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine.