Obituary for Virginia DuVal

Virginia May DuVal

November 20, 1937 – March 7, 2024

Virginia May DuVal passed away Wednesday evening, March 7th, 2024.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 10:00 AM, at the First United Methodist Church, 200 S 6th St, Ponca City, OK 74601. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park, 1901 E. Hubbard Rd, Ponca City, OK 74604. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Virginia was born on November 20th, 1937 in Bronson, TX. Her family moved to Nederland, TX when she was 10 yrs. old. She graduated as valedictorian from Nederland High School in 1955. She went on to college, first at the University of Texas and then graduated as valedictorian from Lamar University in 1959.

After college she worked as a teacher in Beaumont, TX. It was during this time that her coworker and teaching friend set her up on a blind date with Walter DuVal. Her friend’s husband worked with Walter in Beaumont, TX. Two months later, Walter and Ginger were married.

Walter got an opportunity at Lockheed Aircraft Inc. and so the newlywed couple moved to Sunnyvale, CA. Although they enjoyed Sunnyvale, they missed home. Walter went to a job fair hosted by Continental Oil Co. in Ponca City, OK and ultimately accepted an offer to work there.

They moved to Ponca City in 1962 right after there first son, Kenneth was born. Then came their middle son, David, in 1963 and then their daughter, Nancy, in 1966. Virginia had put her teaching career on hold while she raised babies. Then she accepted an offer to teach at Fairfax, Ok. in 1975, where she taught for a few years. She then took a position at East Jr. High School in Ponca City in 1978. And then finally, she moved to Ponca City High School in 1981 where she worked the rest of her career. She was an English, American Literature, Debate, and Drama teacher. She also directed many school plays during her teaching career.

Throughout her life in Ponca City, Virginia enjoyed one of her true passions which was for the theatre. She had many roles in many plays and directed several as well at The Ponca City Playhouse.

Virginia enjoyed traveling with her husband and family. Also, Virginia and Walter had made lifelong friends at their church, First United Methodist and particularly their Sunday school class, The Good Samaritans.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Walter J. DuVal, her sister Nancy Welch of Bronson, TX, and her parents Lonnie and Verleen Smith of Nederland, TX.

She is survived by her daughter Nancy Brown of Ponca City, OK., her two sons Kenneth DuVal of Manhattan, NY, and David of Tulsa, OK, granddaughter, Autumn Brown of Ponca City, grandson Ryan DuVal of Bixby, OK and two great grandsons, Easton and Benson DuVal of Bixby, OK.

Source: Trout Funeral Home