W.G. Smallwood

W.G. “Bill” Smallwood, 92, died Saturday, March 24, 2018.  Born July 29, 1925 in Casey County, Ky., he was the son of the late Grover Cleveland and Isabella Bryant Smallwood.  He was the youngest of six children and the last surviving member of his generation.  They were raised during the “Great Depression” which formed their regard for work and their love of family.  He joined the U.S. Navy at age 18 and served during World War II in the South Pacific  on the USS Dixie, a destroyer tender. He loved to get together with the other servicemen he served with for USS Dixie reunions all over the country. He was proud to be a Navy veteran and serve his country.  Following WWII, he returned to Kentucky and married his wife, Ethel Cline in 1946, they were married 56 years until her death in 2002.   Bill lived a very active and full life, he accomplished a lot and was able to do many things over his 92 years. He was a downtown Danville retail businessman for over 40 years as the owner of Cline’s Shoe Shop, sold appliances and televisions and was a partner in Danville Radio and TV.  He was a part time rental property owner and farmer and loved to raise cattle.  He built his home on Herrington Lake and loved to fish, he also loved to travel in his motor home to Florida during his 60’s and 70’s until he began to spend his winters on Lake Eufaula in southeast Alabama where he loved to fish for crappie.  He was an active member of the Danville First Church of God for over 50 years where he served on the Board and was active in the construction of the new church building on Harrodsburg Road.  Bill was a very outgoing person, he “never met a stranger” and made new friends wherever he went.  He could fix or repair anything and was always busy. Spending time with his children and grandchildren and fishing were the happiest times of his life.  Bill was fortunate to share the last years of his life with a special friend, Mary Ann Dotson and his whole family very much appreciated the friendship and support of Mary Ann’s family who he thought of as his “second family”.

In addition to Mary Ann and her family, Bill is survived by his children, Bob (Sandy) Smallwood of Lexington and Lynda Morehead of Indianapolis, IN.; four grandchildren, Colin Smallwood, Nikki Hunter, Michael (Charissa) Morehead and Christopher (Kim Kuehl) Morehead and four great-grandchildren, Ethan and Shelby Morehead and Alexis and Grace Hunter and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, March 29, 2018 at Stith Funeral Home.  Rev. Kevin Cummins will officiate.  Burial will be in Danville Memorial Gardens.  Pallbearers will be   Colin Smallwood, Michael Morehead, Christopher Morehead, Jarrett Long, Junior Long and Virgil Dunaway. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., prior to the service on Thursday.  Memorial donations are suggested to Heritage Hospice or the Danville First Church of God on Harrodsburg Road.