Funeral for Robert Gary Powell, 70, of Decatur will be Sunday, June 8, 2014, at 2 p.m. in the Ridout’s Brown Service Funeral Home Chapel with Alan Watkins, Charles Riley and Jere Spurlin officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Mr. Powell died Friday, June 6, 2014. He was born November 18, 1943, in Jasper to the late Robert L. and Zephra W. Powell of Jasper. He was a graduate of Walker County High School, Walker Jr. College, earning an Associate in Arts degree, Florence State College, earning a Bachelor of Science degree and the University of North Alabama, earning a Master of Arts degree. He also did post graduate work at the University of Alabama and the University of Tampa.
Mr. Powell was a retired teacher from the Decatur City School System. He taught at Austin High from 1966 to 1969 and 1974 to 1997, teaching most every subject in the Social Studies Department as well as being the second Driver Education hired in Decatur in 1966. He served in the United States Air Force from 199 to 1973 with a tour of duty in the Vietnam War during 1970 to 1971 where he was in charge of In County Training at Cam Ranh Bay Air Force Base. During this time he was recognized for meritorious service by the 483rd SPS at Cam Ranh Air Force Base and again at MacDill Air Force Base.
He was a longtime member of the Grant Street Church of Christ. He served as a teacher at the middle school, high school and adult levels for over 20 years. He also served as a Ministry Leader of Benevolence and the Webmaster of the Grant Street Church web site for several years keeping others up to date of church news and events. He also served as the chairman of the Church Building Committee 2008 to 2009.
At various times in his life he enjoyed golfing, hunting and fishing before his health curbed his participation. He enjoyed working in his yard, caring for his roses and other flowers and vegetable garden. He loved to read and was an avid college football fan of the University of Alabama and became interested in the computer. He loved animals, especially dogs and was the owner of some 14 dogs during his lifetime, having received his first at age two. In later years he taught himself to cook and enjoyed delivering some of his recipes to friends and to the sick and shut-ins.
He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Joan Orr Powell; one niece Jennifer Orr McDavid, Cullen of Prattville; two great nieces, Hannah Grace and Haleigh Virginia McDavid, also of Prattville.
Pallbearers will be Eddie Anderson, Baxter Cagle, Dickie Goode, John Slesinski, Tommy Inman and John Haskins.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jere Spurlin, Jim McCulloch, and Tom Wiggins.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grant Street Church of Christ or the Clearview Cancer Center (Decatur Branch), Decatur Oncology (Decatur General Hospital).
