David Brown Smallwood

1970 - 2025

David Brown Smallwood

West Fairlee, VT - David Brown Smallwood, 55, died on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Cedar Hill Care Center in Windsor, VT, due to complications from cancer.

Dave was born March 12, 1970, in Whittier, CA, to parents Robert T. and Shirley (Brown) Smallwood. The family moved to Dunwoody, GA, where he grew up and spent his early adulthood. He was an avid Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

He graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor's degree in English, studied in France, and taught English in Korea, studied Peacekeeping Operations at George Mason University in Virginia, and studied Eastern culture, religion, and philosophy at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico.

Dave married Karen Lenz in 2003 and they had two children, Margaret in 2006 and Nicholas in 2009. While their marriage dissolved in 2018, they remained close friends and co-parents. He was exceedingly proud of his children.

Dave worked at Dartmouth College from 2015 until 2021 and, most recently, worked as a special education paraeducator at Westshire Elementary School in West Fairlee, where he made a lasting impact and was always working to make a difference.

He is survived by his children, Margaret and Nicholas Smallwood, of Thetford Center, VT; his brother Robert Smallwood and wife, Lisa, of Raleigh, NC; his former wife, Karen, and her partner Darren Marcy of Thetford Center; and his beloved cat Tuk.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his paternal grandparents Robert and Maude (Calhoun) Smallwood, and his maternal grandparents Glynn and Elma Lucy (Barnett) Brown.

Private services have been held and memorial donations may be made in Dave's name to the Vermont Children's Trust Foundation at (https://vtchildrenstrust.org/).

Services are entrusted to Knight Funeral Home. Please read the full obituary at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.