William "Bill" Powell Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of William Ray Powell (Bill) of Ironton, Missouri who died on May 18, 2022, at the age of 70 years. Bill passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family. Bill will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Virginia Powell (nee LeDesky); his brother Frank (Angela) Powell, his children: William (Jennifer) Powell, Stephanie (Ben) Warren (nee Powell), and Alan Powell; stepchildren, Charles (Ellen) Johnson, and Michael (Crystal) Jackson; and his grandchildren: Amber, Katelyn, Lucas, Caleb, Nadaleigh, Collyn, Aubrey, Jack, and Finley; honorary grandchild, Lexie. Bill is proceeded in death by his mother and father, Betty and Rayford Powell and his brother Rodney Powell. Bill was born December 11, 1951 in Wichita, Kansas. From a tender age Bill was a traveling soul, never settling in one place for too long. Before he graduated high school at Hale High in Tulsa, Oklahoma he lived in many places including, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas, Colorado and Missouri. Fresh out of high school in 1970 and eager to serve his country, he volunteered for the US Navy. Bill was stationed in the Azores where he was an aviation electrician, second seaman. When his navel career concluded he moved to St. Louis, Missouri. Soon thereafter he re-enlisted in the military with the US Army Reserves. This military tour took him to Canton, Ohio, Garner, North Carolina and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After serving his country for 20 years, he returned to college and graduated from UM-St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology. Upon graduation he began his final career with Missouri Department of Probation and Parole as a Probation/Parole Officer overseeing violent offenders and teaching anger management classes. He married the great love of his life, Virginia, in 2013. Together they enjoyed their time in retirement tending to their property at Lake Hanna and spending time with family and friends. The ultimately settled in Ironton, Missouri with all their four-legged children. Bill lived his life with a constant optimism for the future and believed that anything was possible. He loved Elvis Presley (music and movies), watching golf and Oklahoma Sooners football, making breakfast, ham radio, riding ATV’s, and was an active and vocal spectator of cable news. Anyone who knew Bill got a story and a deal. Both frequently could be called a tall tale, but always delivered with good intentions and twinkle in his eye. Bill will be genuinely missed by all who knew him. A visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at Cole Funeral Home in Ironton, Missouri 210 East Reynolds Street, Ironton, Missouri 63650. A Memorial Service will be immediately following at 4:00 p.m. Bill will be laid to rest at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Memorial Donations may be made to the St. Louis Institute for Spinal Cord Injuries.

William "Bill" Powell

December 11, 1951 - May 18, 2022