Jane Elson Duvall

Jane Elson Duvall passed this life peacefully on August 7, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. She was married to William “Billy” Zantzinger for almost 30 years, and together they raised three children. She was predeceased by her daughter, Margaret Downing (Zantzinger) Eisman, and her son, Otway B. Zantzinger III. She is survived by her son, William D. Zantzinger Jr. (Joan), five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, her sister, Susan Ryce (James), and brothers Bernard Duvall (Thelma Jean) and Jack Duvall.

Born in Washington DC on November 23, 1938, Jane lived her childhood in the tight–knit community of Croom, MD, among an extended family of aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, and double cousins. She graduated from St. Mary’s Seminary in 1956. After their marriage in 1959, she and Billy moved to the family farm, West Hatton, where they pursued life as farmers.

Billy and Jane divorced in 1987, and Jane forged a new chapter in her life in Annapolis where she worked for the Maryland State Senate. In 1999, she married Ron Epstein, who passed away soon after. Jane retired from the Senate in 2006, and moved to Sunset Beach, NC, where she made another fresh start. She lived on the ninth hole and played golf every day, weather permitting, and racked up three holes-in-one over the years — a feat that always brought her joy to recount. In 2016, Jane suffered a stroke and in 2018, moved to Richmond, where she could be closer to family.

Jane had a remarkable gift for resilience, always finding a way to begin again – and never stopped being the life of the party. Her friends and family will remember her through the stories they tell of the adventures they shared: Easters at Grand View Farm, hog killing at Thanksgiving, and summers playing bridge, slathered in baby oil, on the beach in Bethany. Wherever she went, Jane brought the fun with her. She is well remembered – by bartenders and senators alike.

Funeral services and burial will be on Saturday, August 22, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas’ Parish, Croom, MD (14300 St Thomas Church Rd). A reception will follow at the parish hall.