Dr. Ronald Nash Duvall

ELKHART — Dr. Ronald Nash Duvall, 92, of Elkhart, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Elkhart General Hospital. 

Ronald was born in Needham, Massachusetts, June 17, 1924, to the late Annie and George Duvall. He was preceded in death by his lovely wife of 61 years, Virginia Bradley and his brother and sister. 

Ronald married Virginia Bradley in West Newton, Massachusetts, Aug. 29, 1954. They had three children two of whom are Ronald Jr. (Karen) of Elkhart and Linda (William) Thompson of Indianapolis. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Debora Litzerman in 1990. 

He was the proud grandparent of Matthew (Samantha) Duvall and Christopher Duvall, all of Elkhart, Abby Thompson of Indianapolis, Andrew Litzerman of Boston, Massachusetts and Michael Waumans of Bristol. He also was a great-grandfather to Carter Nash Duvall. He loved his children and grandchildren immensely.

Ronald was a big sports fan and had played baseball, golf and hockey. He was a coach and league secretary for about 10 years with the Osolo Little League.

He served in World War II from 1943–1946 in the military police and as a technician 3rd Grade in the Medical Corp. in both The European and Asiatic Campaign Theaters. He made six trips to England and France, returning and caring for wounded veterans. He was featured in the Elkhart Truth in a veterans service series for his service in World War II on a hospital ship transporting wounded soldiers back to the U.S. He received an honorary award from the Notre Dame men’s hockey team for services in World War II.

Ronald received his BS in pharmacy with a degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1949 and an MS and PhD from the same college in 1951 and 1957.

He was an assistant professor of chemistry at MCP and also served both the Rho Chi Honor Society and Phi Delta Chi Pharmaceutical Society as a faculty adviser until 1962 when he joined Miles Laboratories in Elkhart.

He held various positions in Pharmacy Research at Miles in the Consumer Products Division including director of the Applied Pharmaceutics Laboratory and was director of Product Development – Medicinals until his retirement in 1990. He was a consultant for three years following his retirement.

He was a member of the American Pharmaceutical Society, The American Chemical Society and a charter member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Ronald was awarded six patents and has published 25 articles in scientific journals. He was co-author along with Dr. Gerald Gold of Elkhart of the U.S. Patent for Alka Seltzer Plus product. 

He was a member of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy Corporation and listed in American Men of Science. He was a Fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1991. He received the Alumni Association Board of Directors Award from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1992.

Friends and family may call from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. with one hour prior for visitation Thursday, May 18, at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 411 W. Vistula St., Bristol. 

The Rev. Robert Van Kempen will officiate. 

Entombment will follow in the Chapel of Memories Mausoleum in Rice Cemetery in Elkhart, where military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard. 

Memorials may be made to St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church or the American Cancer Society. 

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