Duvall, John

JOHN DUVALL

Washington

John Edward Duvall, 84, of Washington, Iowa, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at the United Presbyterian Home following a short illness. Celebration of Life services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at West Chester Methodist Church, with Pastor Marlene Janssen officiating. Visitation will begin at noon Friday at Jones & Eden Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday evening. Interment, with military honors conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29, will take place at the West Chester Cemetery. 

Memorials have been established for the West Chester Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be sent for John's family through the Web at www.jonesfh.com.

John Edward Duvall was born Jan. 26, 1929, on a farm north of West Chester, the son of Walter and June (Winegarden) Duvall. He graduated from West Chester High School in 1947 and Iowa State College in 1951. On Aug. 5, 1950, John married his high school sweetheart, Corinne Nicola. Following college, John went to the Korean War, where he served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army. During his time of service he was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

On his return to the United States, he secured a job teaching vocational agriculture to veterans in Iowa Falls for two years. He returned to the West Chester area and began farming. He was a grain and livestock farmer for over 30 years, retiring in 1989. Even after his retirement his love of farming never ceased.

John was a 70-year member of the West Chester Methodist Church, where he held many positions, including lay leader, teacher, and trustee. He served on Farm Bureau, Farmers Home board, was a Boy Scout leader for three years, and was past president of Pork

Producers.

He liked to play cards, do crossword puzzles, read farm magazines and entertain his family and grandchildren.

He and his wife traveled to all 50 states and all continents, except Antarctica. His favorite trips were to the Great Wall of China, the pyramids in Egypt, and New Zealand. He loved to read about new trips and make plans for a visit. A highlight in John's life was a cruise he enjoyed with his entire family on his 60th wedding anniversary.

John and Corinne have lived at the United Presbyterian Home for 5 ½ years. John had a Shih Tzu dog named Maxi which was his special companion for 16 years.

Survivors include his wife, Corinne Duvall of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Christine Lee and husband Ron of Bella Vista, Ark.; son, Robert Duvall of Iowa City; and daughter, Nancy Wilson and husband Brian of West Chester. His eight grandchildren include Michael Lee of Mesa, Ariz., Rachel Johnson and husband Jason of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Nicholas Duvall and wife Leslie of West Chester, Jessica Wilson of Fargo, N.D., Ashley Wilson of St. Louis, Mo., Caleb Wilson and wife Britt of Iowa City, Colton Wilson of Iowa City and Claire Wilson of West Chester. He is also survived by seven great-grand-children, Cole and Abigail Johnson; Isabelle and Quincy Duvall; Mason, Paxton, and Brennan Wilson; and Keely Kuhlemeier. John is survived by one sister, Mary Woodruff and husband Harold of Jefferson, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ruthe Holmes; and one brother, Earl Duvall.