Duncan M. Thompson Jr.

Duncan M. Thompson, Jr., 86, of Reno NV, died May 5, 2011. Duncan watched the bombing of Pearl Harbor standing on a garage in Kapahulu. He was at the Kamehameha School for Boys and was in US Army JROTC. He was initially assigned to guard the Hawaiian Electric power plant at Honolulu harbor against saboteurs. Thereafter, he joined the US Naval Reserve and worked at Pan American Airways, after receiving his airframe and powerplant license, and repaired seaplanes at the Pearl City peninsula, Pearl Harbor Naval Complex.

He enlisted in the US Army Air Corp and was a flight chief on the Douglas C-47 Dakota or “Gooney Bird” cargo aircraft in the Pacific theater. He started working at United Airlines in 1951. During the Vietnam War, he flew as flight chief into South Vietnam on United Airlines cargo planes assigned to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, Military Air Transport Service, and later Military Airlift Command of the US Air Force.

Duncan, with his brother, Frank, loved to build and repair homes and was a skilled carpenter, plumber, electrician, painter, and mechanic. He rented homes in Aiea and had lasting friendships with his tenants. In 1981, he retired from United Airlines as an aircraft maintenance foreman. He was a landlord for many years thereafter. In 2005, Duncan and six classmates were awarded honorary diplomas from the Kamehameha Schools, class of 1944, due to WW II interrupting completion of high school.

He was a member of the Retired United Airlines Employees Association, Honolulu and Reno, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Honolulu Lodge 616, Waikiki. He moved from Honolulu to Lake Tahoe in 2001 with daughter, Terri, and son-in-law, Michael, and subsequently to Reno. He lived with them until his death.

Duncan was predeceased by his wives; Liberta (Wright) and Rose (Farano); and his brother, Henry G. Thompson. He is survived by his brother, Daniel M. Thompson (Ellen), Ewa Beach; sister, Caroline P. Akana-Baker, Pearl City; brother, Frank C. Thompson (Therese) , Huntington Beach CA ; sisters-in-law, Christine Hall-Thompson, Mililani; and Sandra P. Thompson, Aiea; children, Liberta M. Fifield (Peter), Brookfield MA; Thomas D. Thompson (Jayne), Binghamton NY; and Terri R. Thompson (Michael Okada) Reno NV; daughter-in-law, Mary M. Lunde, San Angelo, TX; cousin, Paulie K. Jennings, Aiea; six grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren, and many more family and friends, including classmates, Fred Kamaka and Howard Benham; coworkers, Joseph Martino and Arthur Chang; and family friend, Vernal Lovett. Viewing is at Borthwick Mortuary, North Chapel, Maunakea Street, on Thursday, May 19th, at 8 a.m., followed by a graveside service at Hawaiian Memorial Park, Kaneohe, at 10 a.m. Casual attire. The family requests no flowers. Memorial gifts may be given in Duncan’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Relay for Life of the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements under the direction of Borthwick Mortuary, Honolulu, HI.