Frank Edward “Ed” McChord, 81, of Lexington, Kentucky died Saturday May 30th, 2026 from heart failure. Ed was born in Lexington, Kentucky on October 11, 1944 to Willmott Winfield McChord and Iona Varn

Frank Edward “Ed” McChord, 81, of Lexington, Kentucky died Saturday May 30th, 2026 from heart failure. Ed was born in Lexington, Kentucky on October 11, 1944 to Willmott Winfield McChord and Iona Varney. His parents were deaf and he was signing before he could speak. His dad instilled in him a lifelong love of fishing.He enlisted in the Army and was taught Russian at Monterey Language Institute. He was stationed in Synop, Turkey on the Black Sea.He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Russian Language and Literature. He worked as a drug counselor for Comprehensive Care, a sign-language interpreter for Central Kentucky Technical College and as a Counselor for the Deaf for the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, where he retired in 2004.He was a natural storyteller and always ready with a joke. He loved to sing and play guitar. He was a loving husband and father.He is survived by his wife, Nanette Fleming; five children, Katherine McChord of Lexington, Andrew McChord of Lexington, Samuel McChord (Johanna) of Stuttgart, Germany, Emily McChord Warren (Kyle) of Lancaster, Kentucky, and Byron McChord of Lexington; and nine grandchildren, Hannah, Lindsay, Owen, Aiden, Evelyn, Ashton, Austin, Eleanor and Charlotte.The Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m Thursday June 4, 2026 at Milward - Southland located at 391 Southland Drive. The Memorial Service will follow at 1 p.m.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to KET, the Cathedral Domain, or the Kentucky Fish & Wildlife Foundation. Links for donations can be found at the end of this page.