Diane Duncum

Diane Duncum, a distinguished Abilene Christian University alumna instrumental in the development of the ACU Center for Conflict Resolution, died Monday in her home in College Station at the age of 68.

A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. today at the A&M Church of Christ in College Station. Dr. Royce Money, ACU president, and Dr. Joe Cope, executive director of the Center for Conflict Resolution, will perform the service. There will be a reception following.

Duncum was born in Temple in 1940 to Rowland and Rose Vannoy and came to Abilene Christian College in 1958.

"Diane was a woman of unswerving resolve," Cope said. "She observed life closely, and when she spotted a cause of worth, she poured her heart into it. Mainly she invested in people: people like her husband, John, her family and her friends. Yet she also reached out to strangers. Diane's first thought was always for others."

Duncum and her husband, John, were honored by the ACU Alumni Association with the Distinguished Alumni Citation in 2006. Diane was a member of Women for ACU and the visiting committee for the Social Work, Sociology and Gerontology departments.

The Duncums were instrumental in the development of ACU's Center for Conflict Resolution, donating generously to the new 7,000 square-foot facility to house ACU's conflict resolution and mediation programs and serving on the advisory team for the center. John also established a scholarship endowment in honor of Diane, benefiting ministry majors seeking certification in conflict resolution.

"In our work at the center, she was our No. 1 encourager," Cope said. "She listened for our dreams and set out to get them done. We will miss her energy and her vision, but mostly we will miss her compassionate presence."

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, her sons and their wives, three grandsons, her brothers and sisters, her mother-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.