She was born in Winchester, Kentucky, on March 18, 1926, to the late Charles I. and Bessie Mae (Baber) Owen.
Ruby graduated from La Grange High School in 1944 and married her high school sweetheart, John T. "Tommy" Duncan in 1946.
She was a member of Covenant Church, former member of the Oldham County Country Club, LaGrange Literary Club, and the Oldham County History Center. Ruby was also named an Oldham Era Living Treasure in 2009.
She loved flowers and turned her deck into a flower garden each summer and enjoyed the hummingbirds and butterflies that came by to enjoy her hard work putting her garden together. Later in life Ruby was on her computer for hours and hours and as she would say, "Traveled the World over" during that time. She believed you should "Learn something new every day."
Ruby was also a lover of animals, and would often say, "People are the strangest of ALL animals !" She proudly made the best Hot Browns, lived her life to the fullest, was an avid UK Basketball fan, and above all loved her family.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John T. "Tommy" Duncan Sr. and brother, Lyle Owen.
Left to cherish the memory of Ruby are her children, Mary Ann McQuiston (Kenneth), Bruce D. Duncan (Barbara), and John T. Duncan Jr (Barbara); step-grandson, Jason Thompson; step-great-grandsons, Grayson and Spencer Thompson; extended family and friends.
A funeral for Ruby will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Heady-Radcliffe Funeral Home, 706 W Jefferson St, LaGrange at 3pm with burial to follow in Valley of Rest Cemetery, LaGrange. Visitation will be Tuesday from Noon until the start of the service.
The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff at the Springs at Oldham Reserve for their care and love of their mother and to Dr. Kemparajurs for his continued care.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Covenant Church, the Oldham County Humane Society, or the Oldham County Historical Society.
