MOORESVILLE — His family stretched along the front row inside the Curry Center Gymnasium at Mooresville High School on Sunday afternoon, three of them donning the same military dress blues once worn by their brother, son, husband and father.
While Capt. Seth Koval was all of those things to his family, his life — and death — impacted countless others, and more than 400 of them joined the family on Sunday to honor and remember Koval — a Mooresville native and one of six U.S. service members who lost their lives March 12 in a refueling tanker crash over Iraq back as part of Operation Epic Fury.
Sunday’s tribute service was marked not by sorrow, but by celebration of “a life lived too short but a life lived very well,” remarked his former pastor Larry Floyd.
Floyd’s message — illustrated by the biblical passage found in II Timothy 4:6-8 — underscored those principles that defined Koval’s earthly mission and purpose.
“Seth’s life was a sacrificial life,” said Floyd.
Always pointing back to II Timothy — a poignant passage when the apostle Paul is confronting his own impending death — Floyd highlighted Koval’s determined life, his faithful life and his value-driven life.
“He knew the dangers,” Floyd said. “And he was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”
That sense of duty is part of the family fabric, and his brother — MSgt. Caleb Koval of the Ohio Air National Guard — shared his own recollections of older brother Seth on Sunday.
Unable to remember a single instance Seth ever raised his voice in anger, Caleb recounted an upbringing in which faith was the guidepost. That faith shaped Seth’s life and perspective, leading to a life devoted to family, friends and country.
“He knew the value of the American way,” Caleb said.
Seth’s older sister — Cmd. Hayley Koval of the U.S. Coast Guard — echoed the sentiment in her remarks Sunday.
“Our hope is not in what (Seth) did but in what Jesus Christ did for us,” she told those gathered.
Seth’s wife Heather, who also grew up in Mooresville and ultimately worked as a teacher at Northwood Elementary, spoke of her husband’s humility, of his kindness and his gentle spirit. She spoke of all the ways, big and small, he showed acts of love to her and others. She spoke of his role as an “amazing father” to their young son, of his calm grace and devotion.
“While there is deep grief, there is great love,” she said.
