Leonard Ellis Smallwood

Leonard Ellis Smallwood, 83 passed away suddenly on Friday October 4, 2024 in East Norriton, PA. 

Leonard was born in Vienna, Virginia on August 21st in the year of 1941; and grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and West Virgina. He had quite an exciting childhood as he had moved close to 30 times in his adolescent years. When Leonard became an adult at 18, he wanted to do something for his country and joined the United States Air Force in 1960 and was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force base located in South Dakota. Leonard was then transferred to Alaska shortly thereafter and served as a boilermaker for the next four years. After his honorable discharge from the United States Air Force in 1964; he continued to serve his country by joining the West Virginia National Guard from 1966 to 1969.

Following his service, Leonard made his living as a Master Plumber; and in his latter years as an Inspector for CH2M Hill Company in Manassa, Virginia. Leonard enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. His yearly hunting trips at Caledonia State Park were spend with his brothers “roughing it” out of his truck for three days. Additionally, he would spend yearly vacations with his son-in-law Mike on fishing trips in Quebec, Canada. Leonard also loved playing his bass guitar in a Bluegrass Band. Although he always had many stories to tell (especially of a good friend Jerry Henry), one of his favorite stories was telling us what a great time, he had at Patsy Cline’s wedding reception when he was a young man.

After Leonard’s retirement, Mary Jane and he traveled the continental US in their RV and also traveled to Europe especially Scotland to visit their dear friends Dotti & Jim.

One important attribute that all his friends and family were really taken with was his writing skills and great attention to detail. It was always on full display when he would write a summary that would capture what the event was about in great detail (Vacations, Rough in Manuals for plumbing).

It’s an understatement to say that Leonard didn’t enjoy a good meal. And if the meal was really good, he would always complement the chef by saying “That was mighty fine cooking, It makes your tongue slap your brain; end of story”.

Leonard is preceded in death by daughters Dana and Patti, and his brothers Larry, Lester, and Louis Smallwood, and his parents Ruth Golden Larrick Smallwood and Wilson David Smallwood. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Mary Jane Smallwood, daughters Stacy Smallwood (Jen), Kelly Renee Kilmer (Chris) and Michelle Lorek (Michael), and four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc., Shippensburg. Pastor Bruce Levy will officiate. Viewing will be one hour prior to the service on Friday afternoon at the funeral home.