Kenneth Dale Edmoundson

Kenneth was a fun loving, hardworking man. He retired as an investigator with the Kern County Sheriff’s Department in Bakersfield, California at the young age of 36 due to a back injury while on duty. He had the privilege of being one of the first 12 canine handlers that the department had. He and Butch, his trusty K9, served Bakersfield and the surrounding area for many years. Both retired to the Ouachita Mountains, near Lake Hinkle, in Arkansas in 1972 where he brought his wife and three children to live on a 520 AC ranch. They raised Tyson chickens and a herd of cattle for several years. In a very short time, Ken had made a bushel of friends and together they started a volunteer fire department which he and his wife helped to manage. In 2005, they decided to sell the ranch and move closer to "civilization," as his children would say. They packed up and moved to Huntington, Arkansas, where they resided until 2016 when they moved to a lovely home in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Life was good to Kenneth and JoAnne. They raised three children and were blessed with 7 wonderful grandchildren and 14 adorable great grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnne of Fort Smith; his daughter, Theresa Edmoundson (Olson) of Bakersfield, CA; his son, Eric Edmoundson and wife, Delilah of Fort Smith; his daughter, Denise Mourton and husband, Steve of Waldron; his grandchildren, Amanda Foster, Seth Merrell, Kendra Merrell, Joshua Mourton, Erica Coats, Cami Brown and Kaycee Olson, as well as 14 great grandchildren; his sister, June Robinson and husband, Clyde of Aurora, CO; his brother, Dean Edmoundson and wife, June of Honomu, HI; his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Kofhal; his brother-in-law, JC Frank, and numerous nieces and nephews scattered all around the United States and abroad. He is reunited in Heaven with his father, Earl Edmoundson; mother, Bertha Bryan Edmoundson; sister, Ada Ram and brother-in-law, Henry Frank.

He will be laid to rest at the US National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He served our country during the Korean War as a Seabee stationed in Japan and Guam. He loved our country and was proud to fly our flag every chance he had. He was a true patriot, loving husband, father, and grandfather, as well as a trusted friend to so many. This pillar and kind soul will be greatly missed by all that knew him!

His Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 29 at 10 a.m. at the Greenwood First Baptist Church under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. It will be opened to the public.

Visitation will be Friday, July 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Greenwood. Friends and family are welcomed to attend.

Graveside service will be held Monday, July 31 promptly at 11 a.m. at the US National Cemetery in Fort Smith.