Services have been set for Pfc. Derrick Daniel Gwaltney, 21, who died Sunday, Nov. 29, while serving in Iraq.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the funeral at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at Coral Ridge Funeral Home, 1630 Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. Full military honors will be provided by the U.S. Army.
Pfc. Gwaltney, who was home-based at Fort Lewis, Wash., was born on Dec. 18, 1987 in Fort Myers to Patricia and Billy Gwaltney. When he was born he was blessed in the re-organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
He enjoyed bowling, watching movies, playing board games. Since the age of 5, when he would always ask to sing “God Bless America” he always wanted to serve his country in the military.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his loving family including; his daughter, Saphira Gwaltney; his wife, Heidi Gwaltney of Cape Coral; his siblings, Jessica Gwaltney, of Fort Myers, Latisha Gwaltney, of Lehigh Acres, Brian John Gwaltney, and Casey Gwaltney both of Fort Myers; grandfather Dan Callahan of Ohio; step daughter, Kyrah Carvalolo; and many loving family and friends.
Memorial donations in his memory be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, IN 38105.