Gerald John Duvall's Obituary
Gerald John “Jerry” Duvall, 82, passed away on Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Lewes, Delaware. Born on July 20, 1943, in Jacobsburg, Ohio, he was the son of the late Mildred Marie Steiner Duvall and Dale Duvall. He grew up in Shadyside, Ohio, where he was educated and raised as one of five children.
In 1967, Jerry received his diploma in nursing from Saint Francis School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio, where he was awarded Highest Academic Achievement in a class of thirty-eight. In 1968, he completed the Army Nurse Operating Room Course at Fort Benning, Georgia.
As a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Nurse Corps, Jerry was assigned to the 95th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam. He later served as a Captain in the Army Nurse Corps at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii and at Fort Ord, California. In 1974, he entered the Active Army Reserve and became a Multi-Service Operating Room Nurse at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Over the next thirty-one years, Jerry assumed increasing responsibilities, and in 1998 he became Head Nurse and Instructor for Peripheral Vascular Service Nursing and Head Nurse for the Cardio-Thoracic Nursing Service. Drawing on his experience in Vietnam, he cared for the combat wounded from the Iraq Wars and Afghanistan. Because of his expertise and reliability, he was entrusted with the care of high-profile patients, including heads of state, a president of the United States, Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 2002, he received the Department of the Army’s Superior Civilian Service Award, the highest award given by the Department of Defense to a civilian employee. “Mr. Duvall was one of the most conscientious and dedicated employees in government service. He consistently set the highest personal and professional standards for all assignments and positions.”
Jerry spent his weekends with his partner, Gary, at their cabin in the Shenandoah Valley, where they hiked and rode horses along mountain trails, canoed on the Shenandoah River, and tended a garden and vineyard on the property. An avid naturalist, Jerry knew birds by their songs and wildflowers by name. He and Gary also cycled the C&O Canal and many of the bike trails in Washington, D.C. and sailed the Chesapeake Bay together for more than twenty years.
After retiring to Rehoboth Beach, Jerry and Gary traveled throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. They especially enjoyed European riverboat trips, where they made many friends. They embraced the social life of the beach community and shared their home with three beloved Weimaraner's over the years: Ziggy, Ryker, and Willow.
Jerry is survived by his partner and husband of 56 years, Gary Colangelo of Rehoboth Beach; his sisters, Bonnie Maxine Bonar of West Liberty, West Virginia, and Marlene Kay Krupa of Shadyside, Ohio; and his brother, Terry Richard Duvall of Shadyside, Ohio. He was predeceased by his sister, Darlene Fay DeLong of Shadyside, Ohio.
Jerry never sought power or acclaim. What he wanted most was to be an excellent clinical staff nurse, and by every measure, he exceeded that goal.
“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution.” — Aristotle
A funeral service with military honors will be held at 11:00 AM, on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at All Saints Church Episcopal Church, 18 Olive Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, where family and friends may visit from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Entombment will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Brandywine Valley SPCA .
Please sign the tribute wall located at this website.
FLORIST NOTE - PLEASE DELIVER ALL ARRANGEMENTS TO OUR LEWES LOCATION ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, BY 3 PM.
What’s your fondest memory of Gerald?
What’s a lesson you learned from Gerald?
Share a story where Gerald's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Gerald you’ll never forget.
How did Gerald make you smile?