Duncan William Gairns

Duncan William Gairns, age 78, of Pennsville, NJ passed away on Wednesday, January 10, 2018.He was born in Carneys Point, NJ, he was the son of John and Anna (Engle) Gairns. He was a graduate of St. James High School, Class of ’58 and Goldey Beacom College. He was a U.S. Army Veteran, serving as a radio/teletype operator at Ft. Hood, TX during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He worked several jobs before being hired as a dispatcher for Chemical Leaman Tank Lines in Bridgeport, NJ, retiring as a Terminal Manager for Quality Carriers (OLC), in Wilmington, DE. Duncan was an avid Eagles fan and “loved” losing his money at the Casinos. He was a regular at Rachel’s Market, for his daily scratch off lottery ticket fix. He was a one of a kind character who could always make you laugh and he had a “way with words” speaking whatever was on his mind, and we mean WHATEVER was on his mind! But, he was always willing to go above and beyond to help in need. Duncan was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He loved his family, but we all know it was his dog Maggie that he loved the most! You wouldn’t see him without her if he could help it. He loved being around people and going to dinner with his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Eileen and Bob Lawless, and was very thankful for their help. Leaving to cherish his memory are his wife, Kathleen (McCarthy), daughters Joyce (Greg) Wood, Valerie Opsal, grandchildren Dylan Opsal, Jessica Opsal, Calvin Wood and Derek Wood, brother Patrick Gairns (Karen Huffstodt), sisters Phyllis Owen, Mary Lou (Richard) Motoyoshi and Jackie Starn, and in-laws Eileen and Bob Lawless and Pat Beavers, his loving dog Maggie and many adoring nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his parents, sisters Sally McKendrick and Ann Rowe and brothers-in-law Paul Rowe, Donald Starn and Joe Owen. A viewing will be held from 6-8 pm, Monday January 15 and 9:30-10:30am, Tuesday January 16 at the Ashcraft Funeral Home, 740 South Broadway, Pennsville, NJ. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am, Tuesday, January 16, at St. Gabriel the Archangel (Corpus Christi) Parish, 369 Georgetown Road, Carneys Point, NJ and followed by interment at St Mary’s Cemetery in Salem, NJ. In lieu of flowers, those who desire may make a donation in memory of Duncan to the Disabled American Veterans of NJ, 171 Jersey St., Bldg. 5, Floor 2, Trenton, NJ 08611 or the charity of your choice. www.ashcraftfuneralhomes.com

Duncan William Gairns

January 2, 1940 - January 10, 2018