Obituary of Walter V. Duplin

Walter V. Duplin Jr, 88, of Berlin, peacefully entered into eternal life on Tuesday, September 8th, at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, after a brief illness, surrounded by his family. He was welcomed into paradise by his loving wife Patricia, who had prepared the way for him years earlier. They are now hand in hand into eternity. Born in New Britain, he had lived 62 years in Berlin. Walter was the son of Walter V. Duplin Sr and Margaret (Loomis) Duplin. He attended New Britain schools, and after high school enlisted in the US Navy to serve our country during WWII and the Korean Conflict. In WWII, his duties as radioman on first the USS Barney, and then on the USS John Hood destroyers, was to spot and engage German U-boats off the US east coast, all the way to Cuba. After his military service, he was employed at Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford for 34 years, as an Instrumentation Engineer until his retirement in 1987. Walter was an active member of St Paul Church in Kensington for 62 years, a member of the American Legion, the Royal Arcanum, and a former member of the Knights of Columbus. In his later years, he volunteered his time to transport elderly residents to and from the hospital, as well as escort handicapped individuals to Mass on Sundays. But his first love, was the many years that he volunteered at the St Paul School library, where his wife Patricia had taught for twenty-plus years. In his words, he was "continuing his wife's legacy of working with kids in education". Walter's crowning achievement was raising eight children with Patricia, all of whom attended St Paul parish school. He is survived by seven of his children: Mark Duplin and his wife Mary-Jane of Newington; Annemarie Duplin of South Burlington, VT; Kathleen Grey of Lutz, FL; Kevin Duplin of Haddam, CT; Brian Duplin of Plainville, CT; Michael Duplin of Vernon, CT; and Michelle Duplin of New Britain. He is also survived by his sister Vivian Borg of Unionville, CT. He leaves behind fifteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and several nephews and nieces. Walter was pre-deceased by his wife Patricia (1994), and his son Jeffrey (1980). Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning, September 15, at 9:00am from the Farrell Funeral Home, 110 Franklin Square, New Britain. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00am at St Paul's Church, Kensington. Burial will be in St Mary Cemetery, New Britain. Visiting hours will be Monday, September 14, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Paul School, 461 Alling St, Kensington, CT 06037.