Gerald Kovalenko

Gerald Eugene Kovalen-

ko, 88, of Warrenton, VA,

passed away on April 14,

2022. Gerald was born on

October 25, 1933, on a

farm in Ruso, North Dako-

ta. His parents John and

Mary Kovalenko immi-

grated from Ukraine and

were first generation

Americans. He was raised

in a devotedly Christian

home and had a strong re-

lationship with Jesus

Christ his Lord and Sa-

vior, which supported

and sustained him

throughout his entire life.

He grew up on the farm,

graduated from Minot

High School and was

drafted into the Army

during the Korean war,

where he served at West

Point and in Germany. He

later graduated from

North Dakota State

University with a degree

in Mechanical Engineer-

ing and worked for the

Army Corp of Engineers

for 2 years and then the

Department of Navy for

35 years until his retire-

ment.

He was a devoted hus-

band, father, grandfather,

and great-grandfather. He

married the love of his

life, Martha Robideau, in

August of 1959 in Moor-

head, MN, and they were

married for almost 60

years until she passed in

2019. Gerald helped raise

their 3 children Teresa

Lynn, Robert Jonathan,

and Jean Marie, mostly in

Ridgecrest, CA, and then

in Springfield, VA, when

he took a job with the

Navy in 1978. When he

and Martha retired in

1995, they moved to War-

renton, VA, where he

spent the remainder of his

life attending church,

volunteering in the com-

munity, and spending

time with his wife, chil-

dren, grandchildren, and

great-grandchildren.

Gerald was kind and

gentle and was always

willing to help either a

family member or friend

in need. He will be dearly

missed by his family.

Gerald is survived by

his children Teresa Ko-

valenko and Robert Ko-

valenko, both of Warren-

ton, VA, and daughter

Jean Prater and her hus-

band Scott of Leesburg,

VA, and his grandchil-

dren Daniel Davila and

wife Patricia of Burke,

VA, Amanda Prater-Howe

and her husband Jesse of

Round Hill, VA, and Za-

chary Prater and his wife

Emily of Charlestown,

WV. He also is survived

by his great-grandchildren

Daniel Davila Jr., Hayden

Prater, Audrey Howe, and

Andrew Prater. He is pre-

ceded in death by his sis-

ters Gloria Smith, Irean

Ely, and Mary Kovalenko,

his brothers David Ko-

valenko and Richard Ko-

valenko and his parents.

There will be a service

at 2 pm on September 24,

2022, at Greystone

Cemetery in Ruso, North

Dakota, for both Gerald

and Martha Kovalenko.