Doug, what a nice tribute.  I first met Duncan in a business relationship in 1982. We continued business relationships through several companies over the next 15 years. Each of us sharing job opportunities with the other. Career decisions resulted in our leaving Virginia 16 years ago but continued our conversations and email jokes over the years.  Duncan shared the news of his condition with me and spoke confidently of the future and referenced the ongoing care of "his personal nurse".  

He truly loved people beyond his family and never met a stranger.  Regrettably, my career journey took us further west and missed those personal opportunities to share lunch or a beer.  It is true "The Corps" was always close to his heart.

I have lost a great and loyal friend of decades.  My condolences to all the family.

Dear Doug and Family - My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family at this difficult time.  "Amazing Grace"

As Duncan's twin brother, I would like to share some personal experiences. Before I do, I would like to point out how parallel our lives have been these past 69 years; and yet very different.  We were not identical  in fact, we were mirror twins. He was left handed and I am right handed. He was a republican and I am a democrat.  He was in the private sector and I in the public sector. He raised white Westies and we black Scotties. He fathered girls and I boys.

 We were born in Madrid, Spain on February 17, 1946 delivered by Dr. Luque at 9:20 P.M. I was born nearly an hour later. I always blamed him for holding the door closed. One of the really great things about being a twin is that you always had a playmate. We didn't fight much because that would result in losing a playmate. We had the same friends (often arguing over who met them first). One of my first childhood recollections is the language Duncan and I developed - a mixture of Spanish and English that no one else could understand. 

Duncan was my womb mate, roommate, best friend, and confidant. You might conclude that we were hooked at the hip.  As twins, we were inseparable. To this day, I don't think we ever really fought with each other. Our dad put boxing gloves on us and I learned early on that he didn't like being hit in the nose. And, he learned that I hated wrestling  so we avoided mixing it up physically. 

We did most everything together and got along famously until later in life when politics entered our conversations or we sent one another unwanted specious articles, viewpoints, and outright rants. We never felt jealous of each other and took great pride in each other's accomplishments. We were a great deal alike; yet like Jeb, each our own person. Lots of people are sending out prayers for me because it is unimaginable for them to think of what it might feel like to miss a lifetime companion such as Duncan. I am fine and take comfort from the fact that our shared recollections are indeed special and, like our own twin language, ours alone. Our travels and countless adventures together in Japan, Holland, Germany, Scandinavia, and state-side, along with shared experiences in scouts, sports, and with our sisters, parents, and a host of friends, which were doubled when we lived in the same location, are memories I will cherish forever.

While growing up we got into the lawn and yard maintenance business until the borrowed lawn mower caught fire and exploded. We delivered the Washington Post with one of the biggest routes in the system  fortunately, Dad helped out on Thursday s and Sundays when the papers are the fattest. Later, when we were grown and needed extra monies to raise our newly arrived children, we went into taking down trees which only lasted one day due to the size of the tree and the want of experience and equipment  that house is still standing because we walked off the job. We went into house painting which resulted in us spending a couple of weekends getting the paint off of a co-worker's brick siding. We abandoned the unofficial business because we knew no one would hire the Duffus Brothers.

Our grade point average in school over the years was almost identical (although his grades were way better in math).  We went to the same schools except for one year (when I went away to a boarding school). In high school we were captains of two JV teams  the Green and the White teams as the school we attended was that overcrowded until a new school was built. At the University of Maryland, we majored in the same subject - government (except I moved to history). 

We were the best men at our respective weddings - he to Julie for 42 years and I to Mary Ann for 45 years come November.  Our wives both worked for decades as educators.  Dunc and I fathered two children.  He had girls  Jennifer and Britten, and mine being boys  Erik and Adam. Our children are identical in age and temperament.  His daughters gave birth to Duncan Clarke Wickham (age 11), Pendleton Avery Wickham (age 7), and James Reese Parker (age 3).  My son's children are Forrester (age 5), Vivian (age 5), Caroline (age 3) and Quinlan (age 3).  

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Maryland and he joined the Marines and went to Vietnam and earned six air medals as a Bombardier/Navigator in A-6 All-weather jet fighters patrolling the Ho Chi Minh Trail.  He was extremely proud to be a Marine and rose to the rank of Captain.  After his military service, he was recruited by H. Ross Perot personally and joined the F.I. du Pont-Glore, Forgon financial services company where he was trained in Los Angeles and New York City to become a stock broker.

Subsequently, he went into the insurance business and worked for several decades in senior consulting and sales executive positions. Along the way he earned his Master's Degree in Financial Services and also was a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant, (ChFC) and Certified Employee Benefits Specialist, (CEBS).  Duncan developed the capacity and competency of networking and building relationships. He worked hard in the insurance business here in Richmond and indeed along the east coast at several companies and small firms so well represented here today. He was honest, respectful, courteous, tactful, and diplomatic. These last couple of years, he was particularly proud of his work informing senior veterans and their families about the VA's Aid and Attendance Program (A&A) through the Veterans Financial, Inc. He also was honored to be able to volunteer at the Virginia War Memorial where he spent a considerable amount of time informing the public about the many sacrifices those American service members paid for our freedoms.

It was that combination of passion, charm, wit, common sense, intelligence, and bottomless warmth that captured people. He reached out to total strangers all the time and would do the oddest things to bring them to laughter or scratching or shaking their heads. His zest and spark and life were ever present.  And (double bonus) having me for a brother! 

The last couple of years along with his finance Karen,  we shared  great  fun going to the Maryland lacrosse NCAA championship games, attending a Marine Corps Evening Parade, and watching the Blue Angels last September at the Norfolk Navy Base.

I was able to tell him every day for the last couple of months how much I loved him and how proud I was of his courage and his steadfast faith in the Lord.  Over the last couple of weeks we got to share some private moments that I will never forget. I believe our family was divinely given this window to say goodbye. We didn't realize at the time that it was closure, but it was. But, God called him home. Duncan, through his faith, passion for the Marine Corps and all the armed forces, veterans, love of family and friends, and gregarious personality has left a beautiful legacy.  Attention Saint Peter! A new Marine has arrived to Heaven's scenes to help guard  Captain Duncan Judson Blankinship.

Rest in Peace - Doug Blankinship

When we reported to Pensacola in January '69, Duncan was told his eyes weren't good enough to be a pilot ("naval aviator"), a huge disappointment.  But Duncan showed he had The Right Stuff to go on and earn the "Wings of Gold" of a Naval Flight Officer, becoming a navigator on A6 Intruders.

For such guts and resilience, Duncan will always be one of my heroes, the measure of a man often being how he handles such setbacks. 

There's no finer tribute to Duncan than my grandson listening to this story and having him politely whisper, "Granda - I think I heard that story before." That made me feel great because Duncan's story deserves to be retold.

May God Rest Marine Capt. Blankinship and Reward Him for His Service to Corps & Country.

I was so sorry to learn of Duncan's passing.  As a friend and former coworker of his, I knew him to always be a man of principle and honor.  He wore the title of "Former Marine" with a reserved dignity.  My condolences to his family.

As President of Woody Funeral Home, I extend our deepest sympathy from all our staff for your loss. We are committed to providing the utmost care to you at this time and throughout the days to come. Our purpose is to assist and serve you in a manner that exceeds your expectations. We pledge to strive to merit the trust you have reposed in us.

OBITUARY

Duncan Judson Blankinship

February 17, 1946 – August 16, 2015

Woody Funeral Home Huguenot Chapel

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