Robert Ray “Bob” Powell

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Robert Ray “Bob” Powell Veteran

Birth
Vernal, Uintah County, Utah, USA
Death
16 Mar 2020 (aged 87)
Burial
Vernal, Uintah County, Utah, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Robert Ray (Bob) Powell, 87, of Vernal passed away Monday, March 16, 2020, at Uintah Care Center in Vernal.

Bob was born December 10, 1932, in Vernal, Utah to John Powell and Ruth Olive Gray Powell. Bob had three older brothers, John (Jack), Keith, and Kelly, three older sisters, Dorothy, Mary and Betty, and a younger sister Alice.

Quoting Bob about his childhood, "The first six years of my life were wonderful; no work, just play from sun up to sun down. Then in the spring after my sixth birthday I had just loaded my pockets with marbles and was going out to spend the day with my cousin Steven...when dad came and said, 'It's time to go to the ranch (Jensen) and you will be going with Kelly and I every day.' I told him I didn't want to go but he didn't listen; just picked me up and put me in the truck. That was the day I lost a lot of my freedoms."

Bob was raised and educated in Vernal until he was inducted into the Air Force at Dugway, Utah, in February 1952. He was stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, Guam, Salina, Kansas, Riverside, California, Minot, North Dakota, Hahn AFB, West Germany, and Williams AFB, Ariz. Robert retired in 1974 as a Tech Sergeant with 22 years of service.

Bob married Norma Lucille Whittaker July 24th, 1954, in Boise, Idaho. Norma would go to the church basketball games and on one occasion she noticed the sexiest pair of legs she had ever seen in her life. They belonged to Bob and it was love at first sight. She loved those legs and because of those sexy legs, Bob and Norma are the proud parents of 8 children: Debbie, Roxanne, Eric, Rod, Rhonda, Norman, Wendy, and Susan. The late arrival to the family raised and loved as their own are Allison Lewis and Michael Lewis.

While serving in the Air Force in Germany the Robert Powell family were sealed together as an eternal family in the Bern, Switzerland Temple on November 20, 1970. After retiring from the Air Force, Bob was a butcher at several grocery stores and had his own wild game meat cutting shop, B and N Custom Cutting.

Bob was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and began each day faithfully studying the scriptures.

Bob is survived by his wife, Norma Powell, daughter, Debbie (Dan) Fowler, son, Eric (Terri) Powell, son, Rod (Tammy) Powell, daughter, Rhonda (Ron) Jones, son, Norman (Dana) Powell, daughter, Wendy (Alan) Owens, and daughter, Susan (Mike) Manwaring, and Allison (Bryce) Whitney, and a sister Betty Sheffer. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and three sisters, Michael Lewis, his grandson Robert Rhondale Jones (Lil Rhonnie) and a daughter Roxanne Clark.

Quoting Bob again, "I have always loved gardening. I always thought it would be nice to die with a shovel in my hand. I started working in the garden at age 6. Gardening is a big part of my life! "

Bob will be missed by his grandchildren who he loved and who in turn loved him. His greatest success in life was being a grandpa. His grandchildren received compliments at every turn. They fed animals, went on walks and when they were tired, he carried them. Their arms were always reaching for him. The youngest ones would crawl on his lap and fall asleep. He had a particularly close relationship with his grandson "Lil Rhonnie" Jones who died in an aircraft accident. Bob will be laid to rest next to him.

Private family graveside services for Robert "Bob" Ray Powell, age 87, husband of Norma Powell, will be held Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 1:00 PM at the Vernal Memorial Park with military honors provided by American Legion Post 11.
Robert Ray (Bob) Powell, 87, of Vernal passed away Monday, March 16, 2020, at Uintah Care Center in Vernal.

Bob was born December 10, 1932, in Vernal, Utah to John Powell and Ruth Olive Gray Powell. Bob had three older brothers, John (Jack), Keith, and Kelly, three older sisters, Dorothy, Mary and Betty, and a younger sister Alice.

Quoting Bob about his childhood, "The first six years of my life were wonderful; no work, just play from sun up to sun down. Then in the spring after my sixth birthday I had just loaded my pockets with marbles and was going out to spend the day with my cousin Steven...when dad came and said, 'It's time to go to the ranch (Jensen) and you will be going with Kelly and I every day.' I told him I didn't want to go but he didn't listen; just picked me up and put me in the truck. That was the day I lost a lot of my freedoms."

Bob was raised and educated in Vernal until he was inducted into the Air Force at Dugway, Utah, in February 1952. He was stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, Guam, Salina, Kansas, Riverside, California, Minot, North Dakota, Hahn AFB, West Germany, and Williams AFB, Ariz. Robert retired in 1974 as a Tech Sergeant with 22 years of service.

Bob married Norma Lucille Whittaker July 24th, 1954, in Boise, Idaho. Norma would go to the church basketball games and on one occasion she noticed the sexiest pair of legs she had ever seen in her life. They belonged to Bob and it was love at first sight. She loved those legs and because of those sexy legs, Bob and Norma are the proud parents of 8 children: Debbie, Roxanne, Eric, Rod, Rhonda, Norman, Wendy, and Susan. The late arrival to the family raised and loved as their own are Allison Lewis and Michael Lewis.

While serving in the Air Force in Germany the Robert Powell family were sealed together as an eternal family in the Bern, Switzerland Temple on November 20, 1970. After retiring from the Air Force, Bob was a butcher at several grocery stores and had his own wild game meat cutting shop, B and N Custom Cutting.

Bob was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and began each day faithfully studying the scriptures.

Bob is survived by his wife, Norma Powell, daughter, Debbie (Dan) Fowler, son, Eric (Terri) Powell, son, Rod (Tammy) Powell, daughter, Rhonda (Ron) Jones, son, Norman (Dana) Powell, daughter, Wendy (Alan) Owens, and daughter, Susan (Mike) Manwaring, and Allison (Bryce) Whitney, and a sister Betty Sheffer. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and three sisters, Michael Lewis, his grandson Robert Rhondale Jones (Lil Rhonnie) and a daughter Roxanne Clark.

Quoting Bob again, "I have always loved gardening. I always thought it would be nice to die with a shovel in my hand. I started working in the garden at age 6. Gardening is a big part of my life! "

Bob will be missed by his grandchildren who he loved and who in turn loved him. His greatest success in life was being a grandpa. His grandchildren received compliments at every turn. They fed animals, went on walks and when they were tired, he carried them. Their arms were always reaching for him. The youngest ones would crawl on his lap and fall asleep. He had a particularly close relationship with his grandson "Lil Rhonnie" Jones who died in an aircraft accident. Bob will be laid to rest next to him.

Private family graveside services for Robert "Bob" Ray Powell, age 87, husband of Norma Powell, will be held Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 1:00 PM at the Vernal Memorial Park with military honors provided by American Legion Post 11.


  • Created by: R.I.P. Relative Grandchild
  • Added: Mar 18, 2020
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • R.I.P.
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208090370/robert_ray-powell: accessed ), memorial page for Robert Ray “Bob” Powell (10 Dec 1932–16 Mar 2020), Find a Grave Memorial ID 208090370, citing Vernal Memorial Park, Vernal, Uintah County, Utah, USA; Maintained by R.I.P. (contributor 47339884).