Graveside inurnment services for Randy Duvall, 79, Baldwin City, will be Saturday, July 28, 2018, at 10:30 am at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa.
Dr. Oren Randolph (Randy) Duvall died unexpectedly on July 8, 2018, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas.
Randy was born on May 22, 1939, in McPherson, Kansas, to Amous (Chub) and Pauline Duvall. He graduated high school in Great Bend, Kansas, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Wichita State University. He pursued and received his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Music Education at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley.
He was a public school music educator in Littleton, Colorado. Later Randy worked at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Missouri, and served as chairman of the Fine Arts Department.
Randy retired in 2001 following a successful business career from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan.
He is survived by his life partner of nearly 45 years, Gary L. Keller, of the home in Baldwin City, Kansas; his sister, Martha Sue White of Blue Springs, Missouri; his children, Todd Duvall and grandchildren, Logan and Ava of Michigan, and Monique Huber (Tom) and grandson Von of Atchison, Kansas, and several nieces and cousins.
Randy pursued and lived a life that was rich and full of diversity. His passions included: opera and ballet, live theatre and the best of music in all its many forms. Some of his favorite sports teams were Nebraska Cornhuskers football, Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU basketball, Detroit Red Wings hockey and Kansas City Royals baseball. He had the distinct joy of being a Royals Stadium Club bartender during the 1985 World Series Championship season. As much as he loved sports, likewise he loved live operas from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Truly, any cast of singers from the MET certainly qualifies as a music team of the highest order. He loved Drum Corps and was an avid follower and supporter for many, many years. Randy loved to plan and entertain for his family and friends. He was an incredible host and chef. Dr. Duvall was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Gamma Chapter, and the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia professional music fraternity while at Wichita State University.
As a younger oboe player, Randy was fortunate to accompany Beverly Sills in her performance of Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly during his undergraduate study at Wichita State University. His conducting skills were enhanced and honed under the tutelage of world famous French Maestro Pierre Monteaux, culminating in his conducting Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto.
Of the many joys in Randy’s life, he treasured nothing more than spending special time with his family and friends. His wit, charm, humor, many nuances and brilliantly organized mind and intellect will be undoubtedly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Randy’s name to the Lawrence Humane Society, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044 – to honor his love for animals.
A Celebration of the Life of Dr. Randy Duvall will be held from 6:00 to 8:30 pm Saturday, August 11, 2018, at the Lumberyard Arts Center, 718 High St., Baldwin City, Kansas.
