William ‘David’ Powell

William “David” Powell, 80, U.S. Army Corporal, passed away on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, at the DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa after an extended illness. He resided at the Federal VA Veterans Home in Tuscaloosa at the time of death, and was a long-time resident of Decatur. David was a devout man to God, family, church and country. He was dedicated not only to his family, but to his hundreds of friends and acquaintances, who all loved, admired and respected his friendship, humor, and loyalty. He will be missed. He was born on Oct. 18, 1927, in Lacon to Walter and Daisy Powell. He grew up farming with his family. He also hunted and fished with his father, brothers, cousins and nephews, which built the foundation for maintaining strong family ties.

He entered the U.S. Army in July of 1948 and was stationed in Europe, Portugal, the Virgin Islands, and finally in Japan and Korea. He was with the 1st Calvary Division, which was one of the first U.S. forces to enter into North Korea, as a gunner and Asset Chief of Section. He was injured in Korea and was discharged from the Army after a year of recovery at Walter Reed Hospital (Washington, DC) in January of 1953. While in the Army, he was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for Bravery, the U.N. Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was so proud of his service to his country, and so was his family.

David married his beloved wife, Vondalee Hale of Cullman, on Aug. 20, 1951, in Iuka, Miss. He remained devoted to her until his death. She was the love of his life.

After the Army, he finished his education. He then entered the grocery business in Cullman and had great success in Decatur, Cullman and Athens, retiring from the Kroger Company in Decatur. He loved his job because of the interaction with people and as Will Rogers said, “He never met a man he didn’t like.”

God and church were first in his life. He was a member of the Decatur Oak Park Church of God family for 47 years and served as Sunday school teacher, pastor’s council, building committee, YPE president, and directed the bus ministry for many years driving the blue bus. If the church doors were open, his family was there. His first time meeting people, he would always say, “the Lord’s good to us.” He was a true servant of his faith.

David was a skilled player of checkers and horseshoes and loved to compete. He might let you win once, but then you were his. He loved to joke and laugh, and would always say, “Watch out for that fence” and point. He loved all his dogs over his life, and Susie, his beagle, misses him today.

David is loved and will be greatly missed by his family.

He is survived by a son, Norman, his wife Deborah with their daughter Melanie Hunter, and granddaughters, Justice, Jaxon, and Jadyn; a daughter, LeNora Nobling, her husband Johnny and their daughter Elizabeth, daughter Shery and her fiance, Rick McLemore; and a son, Nathan, his wife Marian, and their sons, James and Noah.

He is also survived by two sisters, Jewel Ball and Dorothy Shadix; and his brother, John Powell, all of Vinemont. He has a great number of loving nieces and nephews.

David was preceded in death by his father and mother, Walter and Daisy Powell; five sisters, Bee Murphy, Gracie Etheridge, Mary Hand, Martha Cobb, and Perlie Johnson; and a brother, Bud Powell.

Funeral services will be will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007, at Oak Park Church of God, 1502 16th Ave SE, Decatur, AL, 35601, with public viewing at 11:30 a.m. Officiating will be the Revs. Bobby Newman and Dennis Shadix. Interment will be in Powell’s Chapel on Lacon Mountain on the Highway 23 county line.

Condolences should be sent to Roselawn Funeral Home, 741 Danville Road, SW, Decatur, AL 35601.

“A beloved soldier has gone home.”