James Hardin Smallwood

Funeral services for James Hardin Smallwood, 63, of Killeen, will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Killeen with the Rev. Jeff Miller officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.

Mr. Smallwood died Oct. 29, 2011, at a Temple hospital. He was born May 28, 1948, in Versailles, Ky., to Elmo and Alma Smallwood. After he graduated from Bryan Station High School, he joined the U.S. Army. While in the Army, he traveled around the world, serving in Vietnam and in Germany.

After retirement, Mr. Smallwood worked at, and eventually owned, S.W. Sales, which sold fire, police and safety equipment. It was there he decided what his next direction would be. He always loved serving his country, so the next step would be becoming a police officer. He loved working with the Killeen Police Department. He began as a patrol officer. By the time he retired, he had worn many hats in the department. His favorite ones were teaching at the Police Academy and patrol. He enjoyed watching all the new recruits come in to become police officers, and he loved meeting new people while on patrol.

Mr. Smallwood married Kathleen Vincent on Nov. 24, 1972, in Jelico, Tenn. They came to Killeen when he was stationed at Fort Hood. They built their lives in Killeen since 1973, except for the two years they were in Germany.

Mr. Smallwood was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Paige Zehr.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy Smallwood; daughter, Jennifer Zehr; son-in-law, David Zehr; grandchildren, Leah and Tyler Zehr, all of Killeen; brothers, Mike Bronaugh of Sunset Beach, N.C., Tim and Craig Bronaugh, both of Lexington, Ky.