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In Loving Memory ofJudge Robert Lee Powell
POWELL, JUDGE ROBERT LEE, 86 of Pearisburg, VA departed this earthly life on Monday, August 28, 2006 at Riverview Nursing Home in Rich Creek, VA. Judge Powell, as he was fondly referred to, was born on September 26, 1919 in Wise, Co. VA and was a son of the late William H. and Elizabeth Burton Powell, Sr. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carol Clarke Powell who passed away in February 2004, two brothers, William H. Powell, Jr., Harold J. (Jack) Powell and one sister, Helen J. Powell. As a native of Wise County, VA and even before he graduated from Princeton High School in 1936, he desired to study law. The desire followed him through his years at Concord College and continued after graduation and trailed him to World War II’s pacific theatre, where he served much of his 37 month stint in the Army/Air Force. When the war ended he started working in the Concord College bookstore, saving money for law school. With the help of the G.I. Bill he scraped together his tuition and graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1951. He began a private law practice the following September in Pearisburg. He continued n the private practice of law until January, 1961, when he became a partner with Samuel A. Martin and later that same month he was appointed Giles County Commonwealth’s Attorney by Judge V. L. Sexton, filling the unexpired term of the late Chester J. Stafford and also continued as a partner in the firm of Martin and Powell. He was appointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia as Judge of the 29th Judicial Circuit serving the counties of Giles, Bland and Tazewell on February 1, 1976, from which position he retired on January 31, 1986. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg, the Giles County Post of the American Legion, the Virginia State Bar, Giles Lodge No. 106 A.F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite Temple, Giles Shrine Club, Pearisburg Lions’s Club and various other organizations. Judge Powell is survived by five nieces, Jane and Nancy Powell, both of Charleston, WV, Jane (Patsy) Nettles of Roanoke, Susan Leister of Rockville, MD, and Jessica (Annie) Cheatam of Gulf Breeze, FL. Memorial funeral services will be held Sunday, September 3, 2006 at 2:00pm at the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg with Rev. Ronnie Mutter and Dr. Fred L. Austin officiating with interment at the Roselawn Burial Park in Princeton, WV at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Washington and Lee University or the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg.
If you would like to send your condolences to the family via Givens Funeral Home, simply sign the Memorial Guestbook by clicking the link. Your condolences will be printed out and given to the family.
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