Bobby Duncan’s General Store

Bobby Duncan’s General Store in Strunk, Kentucky has been operated by a member of the Duncan family since 1946, but the business itself is much older. According to an article written by the McCreary County Historical and Genealogical Society, Robert Curtis “Bobby” Duncan ((Oct 22, 1928 – Dec 16, 2016) and his brother, Claude Chester Duncan (Jan 9, 1912 – March 3, 1998) purchased the stock for what was to become Bobby Duncan’s General Store in May of 1946 and began operating the store. Claude sold his interest to Alfred Cross in 1947, and, in 1950, Bobby purchased the outstanding half interest, thus becoming the sole owner of the stock. Bobby operated the store for over seventy years.

In 1930, Thomas Arthur Creekmore (Feb 24, 1891 – Apr 6, 1961) moved his store from Pine Knot to Strunk. In 1939, with the assistance of his son, Thomas Willard Creekmore (Jan 11, 1924 – May 3, 2007) and Ive Perkins, built a large two-story store building at Marsh Creek Road (KY 1470) and the junction of what was then US 27 in the Silerville community, now called Strunk.  The design of the building featured an exposed stairway and open balcony around the second floor. This design aided in heating the entire building, using a pot-bellied stove as well as visibility for merchandise on the second floor. In the back of the store, a two-room apartment and feed store were built, both with outside entrances.

In the fall of 1939, Thomas moved the used furniture and home furnishings from the former Lonzo Lovett store building in Pine Knot to the new building, and added general household merchandise, paint, clothing, and groceries. The store counter, cash drawer, and glass fronted candy case moved from the old Pine Knot store are still in use in Bobby Duncan’s General Store today. In 1933, on this same site, Thomas added two gravity operating pumps from the “Good Gulf Gas and Oil Company” and a small building containing oil, air compressor, and automobile tires. The site was a good one and he sold to locals, as well as travelers on the main north-south US 27 route from Michigan to Florida. Two outhouses were also welcomed, since convenience stops were rare at this time.

After purchasing the stock in the store, seventeen-year-old Bobby lived in the store and was the sole operator. In 1947, Bobby married Barbara Jean (Taylor) Duncan (Sept 16, 1929 – Feb 24, 1988) and the couple lived in the apartment in the back of the store for eight years. Their children, Mike and Linda, were born while they lived in the back of the store. In 1955, Bobby and Barbara began construction on a new home in Oneida, Tennessee, and moved there once it was completed, commuting to work Monday through Saturday. In later years, after the death of Barbara, Bobby married Geneva Baird and the couple continued to operate the store until 2016. Bobby’s daughter, Linda Duncan, has operated the store since 2017.

Customers flocked to Bobby Duncan’s General Store for numerous reasons. Many of the world’s problems, sports, hunting, fishing, and community gossip were discussed around the pot-bellied stove in the center of the store. The store had anything customers needed, from feed, seed, groceries, homemade sandwiches, gasoline, skillets, kitchen ware, farm utensils, kegs of nails, automotive supplies, and, of course, candy and snacks. A Coca Cola with peanuts was a beloved snack of many customers.

In 2003, my mother, Glenna Kidd, and I needed new seals for our pressure cookers. We knew Bobby would have them in stock so, lids in hand, we took them to the store. Not only did he have the correct seals, he replaced the old seals with the new ones while we were in the store. That’s customer service at its finest! In 2014, I traveled to Japan to teach Appalachian music to middle and high school students in Japanese public schools. My lesson plan included the playing of dulcimers, limberjacks, and washboards. After searching online and in music stores for small washboards, I went to Bobby Duncan’s Store. Bobby had the perfect sized washboards needed. The washboards, along with the other instruments, were gifted to the Japanese schools in which I taught. Bobby laughed at the idea they would not be used for washing clothes, but as percussion instruments. Many schools in Japan have washboards purchased at Bobby Duncan’s General Store.

As the years went by, Bobby added more and more merchandise, making items difficult for customers to find. All one needed to do was tell Bobby what you were looking for and he would lead you through the paths of merchandise to the exact location of the item requested. His friendly demeanor and expertise provided a customer experience that is almost impossible to find today.

The building in which Bobby Duncan’s General Store is located remained under the ownership of the Thomas Creekmore family. Anna Mary Creekmore (May 15, 1922 – Apr 18, 2021), daughter of Thomas Creekmore, bequeathed the building to the McCreary County Heritage Foundation upon her passing. In November of 2022, Bobby’s daughter, Linda, purchased the building and is operating the business today. Linda shared, “I am very honored to be able to continue operating Duncan’s General Store. My father, Bobby Duncan, and my mother, Barbara Duncan, raised my brother and me in the store.”

It is widely stated that if you can’t find an item at Bobby Duncan’s, you simply don’t need it. Bobby was a kind, Christian man, who was always willing to help those in need. He loved his family and customers and was loved in return. His ready smile and calm manner created a welcoming place for everyone, whether it was for the purchase of an item, a friendly chat, or simply a bologna sandwich.

The McCreary County Museum and The Voice honor the life and legacy of Bobby Duncan. His legacy, and that of his store, live on, and have remained a cherished part of the community for ninety-four years. Many thanks to Linda Duncan for contributing to this article.

For comments or additional information contact Deborah E. Kidd-Trammell at [email protected].