Arthur Lloyd Duell's Obituary
Arthur Lloyd Duell, MD, 93, of Fayetteville, passed away October 23, 2015, at Willard Walker Hospice Home.
He was born October 27, 1921, in Ruleton, Kansas, the second of eleven children born to Seth and Martha Duell. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers: Leroy, Wendell, Joseph, Jonathon, and Theodore, and son in law, Bradley Gee. He was also preceded in death by his first wife of 64 years, Reine Montel Duell.
Arthur enjoyed a loving and attentive early childhood on the family farm on the Great Plains of Northwest Kansas. He attended grade school in Ruleton and graduated from Ruleton Consolidated High School in 1940 as the class valedictorian. He began his college education at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, until enlisting in the United States Army in 1942.
Arthur served in World War II as a Medical Technician in the First Medical Field Laboratory in North Africa, the 6703rd Blood Transfusion Company in Italy, and the 6825th Blood Transfusion Company in France. For his service he received the Tunisian, Rome Arno, and the Rhineland Battle Campaign Stars.
During the war, Arthur met and fell in love with a young French woman, Reine Montel, in Marseille, France and after a two-year courtship they were married in Marseille in 1947. Together they resumed Arthur’s education and began a family of eight children. Arthur graduated in 1948 with a B. A. Degree in Zoology from the University of Kansas and received his MD Degree from the University of Kansas Medical School in 1952. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency in Denver, Colorado and Houston, Texas. The Duells moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1959. Arthur was a long-time member of Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville.
From 1959 until his retirement in 1985, Arthur practiced internal medicine, specializing in pulmonary disease, at the Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville. He enjoyed the practice of medicine but was quick to credit his successes to his support staff of secretaries, nurses, and technicians whom he loved dearly. He described them as being loving, caring, intelligent, pleasant, and efficient.
At age 90 Arthur fell in love a second time and married his second wife Olive Annabelle Taylor. Together, they have inspired many people that “life goes on”.
Arthur was first and foremost a loving, devoted husband, and a nurturing and inspirational father. He provided support to his children in all of their respective activities and interests. Arthur was amazed and fascinated by the abundance and diversity of God’s creations. His mind and body were never idle. His hobbies included wood working, studying and translating the Hebrew language, and traveling the United States and beyond to visit various sites and numerous relatives. Arthur embraced new technologies, and at age 93, he could be found communicating with his friends on Facebook.
Arthur and his family thank all of his caregivers, friends, neighbors, and family who have lifted him in prayer.
Arthur is survived by his second wife Olive Duell of Fayetteville, two brothers: Benjamin of Ruleton, Kansas and Norman of Holyoke, Colorado; three sisters: Eunice Samuelson of Lindsborg, Kansas, Ruth Trued of Lindsborg, Kansas, and Rachel Purvis of Lawrence, Kansas; Olive’s children: Philip Taylor and Teri (Greg) Owens, both of Ruleton, Kansas.
Arthur is survived by his eight children: Miriam (Carl) Moore of Ft. Worth, TX; Michael Duell of Lansing, MI; Elisabeth (Rolando) Branly of Miami, FL; LeRoy (Kim) Duell of Fayetteville, AR; Josephine Gee of Centreville, VA; Paul (Jane) Duell of St. Louis, MO; Charles (Diana) Duell of Fayetteville, AR; James (Judy) Montel Duell of Beit Shemesh, Israel.
He is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held 11:00 am Wednesday, October 28 at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. Interment will be private, under the direction of Moore’s Chapel. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Tuesday, October 27 at Moore’s Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Willard Walker Hospice Home 325 E. Longview St. Fayetteville, AR 72703.
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