Gerald E. Smallwood – Kitty Hawk, NC
Gerald E. Smallwood Jerry, father, husband, Pilot, Attorney, College professor, Financial Advisor, went to be with his maker on March 22. Born May 7, 1929 in Staunton, VA to Methodist minister, Lester H. Smallwood and his wife, Dorothy Earnest Smallwood, he passed on at the Outer Banks Hospital, Nags Head, NC.
He leaves behind his wife of 35 years, Jane McCullough Parris Smallwood, two sons: Taylor and Jones, two daughters: Edie Johnson and Rosemary Smallwood, his former wife: Betty Johnson Hetrick, three step- children: Michael, Ann and Susan Parris, 3 granddaughters and two step-grandsons. He also has one brother, Lester, and is predeceased by his sister, Dorothy.
He graduated from Virginia Military Institute with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1950. He entered the Air Force as a second-lieutenant in 195l, and after graduating from pilot training, he served in Korea, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as other medals. After leaving the Air Force, he earned a Masters Degree in Mathematics from the University of Alabama and entered the Air National Guard. He received a Juris Doctor of Law from Washington and Lee University in 1961. He practiced patent law in Arizona, California and with NASA in Washington, D.C. Upon deciding that he liked flying better than law, he became a commercial pilot with World Airways and Overseas National Airways ONA until ONA went out of business. Now he was living in Fairfax County, VA and he proceeded to earn a MBA in Financial Management from George Mason University GMU while teaching at GMU and in the Fairfax County Public Schools. At age 60 he retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Major.
On retiring to Southern Shores, NC in 1990, he concentrated on Financial Consulting, teaching and playing Tournament Duplicate Bridge and participating in sports, especially tennis. He looked forward every spring and fall to participating in the NC Senior Games. He usually entered in around 25 events, from swimming to billiards.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to GEM, P.O .Box 3601, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 or the VMI Foundation, Lexington, VA. A Memorial Service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 40 Pintail Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC on Sat., March 26 at 2:00, reception with the family to follow at Duck Woods Country Club. Cremation Society of Virginia is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cremate.org.