Joseph Harrell Powell, 96, of Huntsville, Alabama, died January 14, 2023. He was born in Pelham, Georgia, to Lemuel Jewel (L.J.) and Verdie H. Powell. He served in the Navy during the last six months of WWII, and then attended Georgia Tech. In 1949, Joe married Gertrude Bradley of Atlanta, Georgia. Their two sons, Michael and David, were raised in Bynum, Alabama, and then the family moved to Huntsville in 1962.
Joe worked as an industrial engineer for the civil service 32 years, retiring from NASA in 1982. He volunteered with the Lakewood Civitans, studied German, and was an avid reader. They traveled abroad with Friendship Force. He kept physically active and rode his bike well into his eighties.
Joe and Gertrude were committed Christians and were active at Farley Baptist Church, a church they helped plant. Joe loved and cared for his wife of 72 years until she passed away six months ago. He is survived by his two sons and their wives, ten grandchildren, and thirty great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, January 19, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral will be in the chapel at 1:00 p.m. Friday.
Memorials may be made to Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center (www.huntsvilleprc.org).
