Dorothy Duncan

Dorothy I. Duncan died Sunday evening, January 6, 2008, at Brewster Health Center in Topeka. She was born June 5, 1909, at Wakarusa, Kansas, where she had lived all of her life until moving to Brewster in 2007.


Dorothy was a graduate of Washburn University and received her Master of Education degree from the University of Kansas. Her first employment in education was in St. Paul, Kansas, as high school principal. After three years, she became principal of Lyman Elementary School in North Topeka. Many former students and staff continued to stay in touch with her. In fact, she received a Christmas letter from a former student now age 90.

Dorothy's family was her church and community. She was an active member of the Wakarusa Presbyterian Church and was choir director for many years. Faithfully, for the past 32 years, she published a church/community monthly newsletter. Next to the church, she devoted much of her time and effort to supporting the North Topeka (Kuehne Branch) YMCA. In the early development of the YMCA program in North Topeka, Dorothy volunteered her talents as tutor. She contributed financially to many causes, both local and national, especially those involving the welfare of children, the elderly, and animals.

Dorothy enjoyed traveling and had been in almost every state and Cuba. She and her parents and pets spent summers in a cabin in northern Minnesota for many years. Her interests were wide-ranging from flowers, nature and wildlife, her farm interests, and her precious pets.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00a.m., Thurs. Jan. 10, 2007 at Wakarusa Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow at Shawnee Center Cemetery. Dorothy will lie in state after 2:00p.m., Wed., Jan. 9 at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave.

Memorial donations may be made to the Scholarship Fund, C/O Wakarusa Presbyterian Church; Helping Hands Humane Society or the Cat Association.