William Duval, 68, died on Jan. 3, 2015, at his home in Waits River. He was born in Rutland on Dec. 9, 1946, the son of Charles L. and Germaine Duval. Bill grew up as one of ten siblings in Castleton and graduated from Fair Haven Union High School in 1965. He served in the U.S. Navy, on the USS Guam, during the Vietnam War.
Bill started his culinary career at the Norwich Inn and later went on to become chef at the Trapp Family Lodge, the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel, and Woodbound Inn. He was recognized as Chef of New Hampshire in 1984. After heart problems ended his culinary career Bill became a jack-of-all-trades, dealing in antiques and working as a handyman throughout the Upper Valley for the last twenty years of his life. He was a devoted father and grandfather whose selflessness, hard work, and Yankee thrift and ingenuity made him a Vermont original.
Bill is survived by his four children: Kathryn Duval of Gainesville, Fla.; Karey Clayborne and her husband Kevin of Trecastagni, Sicily; Jared Duval and his wife Joan of Montpelier; Juliet Palmer and her husband Josh of Williston; by nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren; and by his friend and former wife, Alice Blackmer of Leesburg, Va. He is also survived by seven of his siblings: Carolyn Aitken of Titusville, Fla.; Barbara Ettori and husband Tom of Castleton; John Duval and wife Bobbi of Hartford, Vt.; Henry Duval of Rutland; Michael Duval of Rutland; Joanne Williams and husband Bruce of Poultney; and Jim Duval and wife Sandy of Granville, N.Y. He was predeceased by his brother Charles Duval II and his sister Charlene Weyrauch.
A service in Bill’s memory will take place at a later date. Hale Funeral Homes of Bradford is in charge of arrangements.