Gerald “Jerry” Selden’s death came near a date 42 years ago that would change his life forever.

A 1967 graduate of Renton High School, the young Marine was shot in both legs in Vietnam on April 19, 1968.

He died either April 22 or April 23, 2010, haunted by the war, his body pulled from the Cedar River near the Renton Senior Center April 23 by two Renton police officers.

He didn’t kill himself, his wife Sharron said this week.

“He did not jump,” she said. “He went for a walk.”

Like other veterans of that war, Selden suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It was always worse around this time of year, said Sharron Selden.

The afternoon of April 22, Selden left home for a walk. He seemed confused. He was stressing over the war. His family reported him missing and a search was begun.

The Cedar is a straight walk down the road from his house in Renton.

Sharron Selden said her husband, who loved to fish, probably walked into the river, thinking he could get to the other side.

“He was a proud Vietnam vet and he died a proud Vietnam vet,” said Sharron. Her husband was awarded two Purple Hearts.

The King County Medical Examiner has yet to release Selden’s cause of death. But Sharron Selden said that at least preliminarily his death was an accident.

Sharron and Gerald Selden, 61, were married for 38 years. He was retired, having worked for Safeway in the West Seattle area. Their daughters, Angela, 35, and Jaime, 28, are graduates of Lindbergh High School.

The war was always a part of their life together and his death.

“If Vietnam hadn’t happened, he wouldn’t have been fighting the demons,” Sharron Selden said. “The demons were always there.”

Gerald Selden will be buried at the Tahoma National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. Monday. Family and friends will gather at the VFW Hall, 416 Burnett Ave. S., Renton, after the service to celebrate his life

Sharron Selden suggests that those who wish could contribute to a search and rescue team to honor the ones who helped search for her husband.