Helen Duncan

Helen Evelyn Duncan passed Friday, December 13, 2013, at the age of 99. She was born November 16, 1914, the first child and only daughter to Virgil Otto Brumbaugh and Grace Vaughn Cotton-Brumbaugh, in Sanger, California.

Her maternal grandparents were Benjamin F. Cotton and Anna Birdie Cody. The Cotton and Cody families were some of the early settlers in the valley.

Helen has been involved in the church her entire life as the Cotton and Cody families were charter members of the Sanger Christian Church. Helen continued as an active member until her marriage to Charles Arthur Duncan on May 1, 1932 when they moved to Fresno and became members of the Belmont Christian Church, which is now Calvary Chapel of Fresno.

Over the years, Helen served the Belmont Christian Church in many capacities including as acting chairperson of the congregation for sometime and assisting in the missionary and outreach programs through her involvement in the local Christian Women's Fellowship.

She devoted her life to her family and the church, as those were always her top priorities. Even with the time she devoted to her faith and raising her three children, Samuel N. Duncan, Carol P. Duncan and Robert H. Duncan, Helen managed to find time to become involved in many local organizations, as well as work with her husband, Charles as one of the first agents for the Civil Service Employees Insurance Company which they continued in Fresno for 32 years until Charles retired.

Her hobbies included a love for singing and Genealogy. In the early 50's there was no group singing four-part harmony in Fresno. Helen along with a group of just fewer than ten ladies started meeting in 1957 at their homes to sing and harmonize. This with the help of a couple from San Jose was the beginning of the Sweet Adelines, a group now know as California Heartland Chorus, "The Chorus with the Heart". This chorus recently celebrated 50 plus years of harmony and Helen felt privileged to serve as their president when they sang their first recital back in the late 50's at Fresno City College. She continued her love for singing when she sang for two years with the Sicilian Singers directed by Vern Delaney, Professor of Music at Fresno State University.

Genealogy was also of great interest to Helen because of her family's relationship to William Fredrick Cody (Buffalo Bill), a cousin of her grandmother Anna Birdie Cody. She continued to maintain the family's records by annually updating the Cody Family in North America's Directory.

Upon Charles' retirement, Helen and Charles became avid travelers. They became members of the Fresno Roadrunners club and traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Mexico.

Helen's love for participating in the following organizations continued up until her death on December 13, 2013;

A member of the San Francisco chapter of the Huguenots, charter member and past President of the Fresno Chapter of Pocahontas, Colonial Dames XVIII-century, and organizing and charter member of DAR Yosemite Chapter (for which she received a beautiful award of appreciation for forty years of dedication and service in 2007), past President of CWF, Christian Women's Fellowship, past President of the Progressive Home Club, a local federated women's club, President of the CFSA ladies' auxiliary to the California State Fireman's Association and local chapter in Fresno, and past President (1975-1976) of the Fresno Emblem Club #125.

Helen was preceded in death by her mother, Grace Cotton-O'Neal; her only brother, Ben P. Brumbaugh; her loving husband and best friend, Charles A. Duncan; her sons, Samuel N. Duncan, Robert H. Duncan; her daughter, Carol P. Duncan-Lacy; and her grandson, Sam Duncan (Little Sam).

Six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and a number of cousins, nieces and nephews survive her.

She will be remembered lovingly for her devotion to her Faith, Family, and Friends.

A visitation will be held at Stephens and Bean Chapel, on Friday, December 20, 2013 from 2:00pm to 7:00pm

A Graveside Service will be held at Belmont Memorial Park, on Saturday, December 21, 2013, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

A Memorial Service will be held at Calvary Chapel of Fresno, on Saturday, December 21, 2013 beginning at 2:30pm.

Remembrances in Helen's name may be made to any of the following; Calvary Chapel of Fresno, Poverello House, The Central Valley Veterans Stand Down and Saint Judes Children's Hospital