Edmond Fonso SMALLWOOD, 70, beloved husband for almost 50 years to Betty Jo Flinchum Smallwood, passed away Aug. 5, 2015. Born Feb. 3, 1945 in Clintwood, Virginia, he was the son of the late Allen Fonso and Bertha Magdalene Vanover Smallwood. He was raised in Jenkins, KY. He graduated from Dorton H.S. in Pike Co., KY. He played basketball at Jenkins H.S. and Dorton H.S. A veteran of the U.S. Army for 3 years of which he served from 1966 to 1967 in Vietnam. He was a SP5 in the 67th Maintenance Bn. He was recipient of the National Defense Service Metal, the Vietnam Service Metal with 2 Bronze Stars, the Vietnam Campaign Metal with Device, Expert “M14”, 2 o/s bars. He was a 31 year employee of East Kentucky Power Cooperative in Winchester at Dale Power Station. He participated in the Mary Byrd Group at the Windsor Care Center in Mt. Sterling and was also active member of the Downtown Athletic Club until his diagnosis of Transverse Myelitis in Sept. of 2012. After battling his spinal cord disease he was diagnosed with Merkel Cell Carcinoma two months before he passed away. He was a member of the Lexington Primitive Baptist Church. Fonso was a man of strong and unwavering faith, integrity, and regard for fellow man, and was held in high esteem by everyone who had the good fortune to know him. In addition to his wife, he is survived by, two children, Katrina Jo Smallwood and Bradley Fonso (Karen) Smallwood; two grandchildren, Samantha Jo Smallwood and Michael (Kinsey) Smallwood; one great grandchild, Spencer Smallwood, all of Mt. Sterling; one sister, Betty Jo Crow, Lexington; and a host of nieces, aunts, uncle, and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by, two brothers, Emory Allen and Garrett Lee Smallwood. Funeral services will be held 12 PM Tues at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home – Harrodsburg Rd. by Pastor Ben Cordes. Burial will follow at Camp Nelson National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be, Brad Smallwood, Eddie Flinchum, Danny Ray Flinchum, Dillard Nicholson, Danny Ellison, and Norman Frye. Visitation will be 10 AM Tues until the time of service at the funeral home. Betty Jo and the family want to personally thank Dr. Karsarskis and the neuro team at the VA Medical Center on Cooper Dr. and the extended medical staff at both locations. A personal thank you to caregivers: Dollie, Scarlett, and Tammy at Comfort Keepers; Tela at Premier Home Care; Staff at the St. Claire Regional Home Care; Leslyn, Brandy, and Elizabeth at Spaulding Physical Therapy in Mt. Sterling.