William Harry Powell

William H. Powell died peacefully while sleeping in his home on the morning of May 5, 2022. William, “Bill” to all his friends & family, was born in Danville, Illinois to Reverend Cedric and Esther Powell on December 22, 1938. He spent his early years in Illinois, graduating from Piper City High School. Bill was a high school track and field star and played halfback on the football team. In summertime, he was a lifeguard at a local lake. Following high school, Bill joined the Army, eventually serving in the Signal Corps stationed at the White House under President Eisenhower. He received a fortuitous reassignment to Eisenhower’s family farm in Gettysburg, PA where he met his wife of 63 years, Susan Jane (McKenrick) of Gettysburg. They first met at a local diner where Sue worked as a waitress, and shortly thereafter, were wed on Jan 3, 1959. The couple have two sons, Michael and Craig. Following the service, Bill worked at a John Deere tractor factory and attended Illinois Wesleyan College. He received a bachelor’s degree in Art Education in 1962. Following school, Bill held several positions including art teacher at New Freedom (PA) Elementary School. In the late 60’s, he landed a position as Athletic Director at the YMCA in Towson, Maryland. That opportunity saw the family settle in Baltimore. In the 70’s, Bill returned to school, earning a master’s degree in art history from Towson State College (now Towson University). He taught 2D and 3D design at the college for over a decade. Bill was an accomplished artist, painter, and sculptor, with his works displayed at several Baltimore galleries including the Baltimore Museum of Art. A man of many talents, Bill also worked as a finish carpenter and painter. He constructed houses, poured concrete, laid brick, and built custom counter tops. In the 80’s, he earned a commission to build a large, water powered chime that stood for years as the centerpiece of a Houston mall. In the 90’s, the Baltimore Municipal Golf Corporation hired Bill to make yardages markers for Pine Ridge and Mount Pleasant Golf Courses, replicas of which are still used today. Prior to retirement, Bill was the Caddy Master and Starter at the Suburban Country Club in Baltimore. Bill and Sue retired in 2004 to central Tennessee, living in Fairfield Glade. Bill loved to play sports and was a fierce competitor. He was a founding father of racquetball in Maryland, cultivating a hotbed of talent while working at the Towson YMCA and winning the state doubles championship in 1969 with Frank Cutko. Through the 80’s & 90’s Bill was a mainstay at the Towson Court Club, playing racquetball in leagues and tournaments and building lifelong friendships. However, his athletic talent was not restricted to racquetball. He was an accomplished tennis player, pool player and golfer, which he enjoyed in retirement Bill loved the outdoors. Sparked from joyful outings with his parents in his youth, Bill passed along a love of camping to his own boys. Notable family trips were a journey to Newfoundland, Canada in 1973 to visit with his brother Milton & family, and camping vacations at the Atlantic shore. The latter evolved into an annual family vacation to the Outer Banks of NC. Bill was a teacher at heart, opening the creative minds of students young and old, running youth summer camps and father / son programs at the YMCA, and instilling a love for baseball and sports in his two boys. Bill loved motorcycles, once taking a solo trip from Maryland to California and back. You could always pique his interest with an old western, some good jazz music or spicey food. Whether on his porch, a golf green or a beach, Bill most enjoyed late summer afternoons when the shadows are long, breeze is cool and a good beer with family and friends tastes best. Although allergic to cats, Bill loved dogs, owning & training several through his life. Most recently, he enjoyed long walks around Mirror Lake with Sue and their dog, Gidget. Bill was preceded in death by his brother Thomas Powell, sister Mary Lou and brother-in-law Stewart Wagner. He is survived by his wife Susan (Fairfield Glade, TN), son Michael Powell and daughter-in-law Patricia Casey-Powell (Crossville, TN), son Craig Powell (Fredericksburg, VA), brother Milton and sister in law Sue Anne Powell (Lansing, MI), sister-in-law Barbara Powell (Channahon, Il), sister-in-law Jean McKenrick (Goldsboro, NC), brother-in-law and sister-in-law Donnie and Bonnie McKenrick (Hagerstown, MD), four grandsons Nathan Powell (Lansing, MI), Benjamin Powell and wife Jackie (Binghamton, NY), Sean Powell (Bel Air, MD) and Nicholas Powell (Bel Air. MD) as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.