Obituary of John Thomas Duncan

John Thomas (Tom) Duncan of Coweta, OK, age 86, stepped out of this world from Forest Hills Healthcare in Broken Arrow, OK and into heaven on August 28, 2015. He was born on October 10, 1928 to Thomas Russell and Kate (Ballard) Duncan at the family home near Cumberland City, TN. He attended the W.T. Thomas School in Cumberland City, and obtained a vast education over his entire lifetime through avid self-study. Tom was married on July 18, 1950 to Joy Maxine Adams in Detroit, MI. One son, Larry, was born to their union. Tom’s career in broadcasting began at WJZM radio in Clarksville, TN. From there he went to work in Nashville at WMAK. Sensing the call of God on his life he left broadcasting for a time to serve with different evangelistic groups as a musician. In 1950 he accepted a position at WXYZ in Detroit as a broadcast engineer for the ABC radio network. While in that position he was inspired to begin a religious record club and started a gospel radio broadcast through his local church. In 1953 he was invited to move that ministry to the International Offices of the Church of God of Prophecy in Cleveland, TN where he was appointed as director of the Communications Ministries. For the next 43 years he worked tirelessly in that position to spread the gospel around the world through the Voice of Salvation radio and television broadcasts in English, Spanish, and Greek; the Gospel Concert Hall radio program; the Voice of Truth radio broadcast; the Broadcast Record Club; and Majestic Recording Studios which he designed and built. He was a lifetime member of the Audio Engineering Society and Society of Broadcast Engineers. Tom served more than fifty years as a deacon in the Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy in Cleveland, TN. In 2013 he and Maxine moved to Coweta, OK and became members of the Coweta Church of God of Prophecy. Tom was preceded in death by his father, mother, and one sister, Alma. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Joy Maxine; one son, Larry and wife Susan of Coweta, OK; one grandson, John and wife Leia of Waco, TX; one granddaughter, Laura Weldon of Broken Arrow, OK; three sisters, Mary Virginia Jones of Dickson, TN, Mildred Mohr of Auburn, IN, Linda Walters of Sevierville, TN; and a large number of in-laws, nephews, and nieces. A home going celebration will be held at Coweta Church of God of Prophecy in Coweta, OK on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 11:00 AM with Bishop Wayne Pense and Bishop Sam Clements officiating. The family will greet friends at Wright-Brown Family Funeral Home on Monday evening, August 31, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 PM. Funeral and cremation services are under the direction of Wright-Brown Family Funeral Home of Coweta, OK. A memorial service will also be held at the Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy in Cleveland, TN on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the family receiving friends before the service from 12:00-1:00 PM. Tom was always generous to assist individuals and families in need. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be to the benevolent fund of the Coweta Church of God of Prophecy, 123 West Sycamore Street, Coweta, OK 74429.