James Richard Powell Jr.

James Richard “Dick” Powell, Jr., age 86. Captain Dick Powell, USN(ret) of McLean, Va., died quietly in his home with his loving family at his side Sunday, 11 January 2015. After graduation from Flushing High School, NY in 1946, he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy and thus began his career as a graduate of the Class of 1950. In 1952, while home from flight school, he met his future wife, Mary Frances Jones of Gulfport, MS After completing flight training in Pensacola, FL and Kingsville, TX, he reported for duty at NAS Miramar in 1954 flying the F9F6 Cougar. After that cruise, he transitioned to the FJ-3M and in October 1956 suffered a mid-air collision during a training flight and ejected with serious injuries. After numerous other tours, he took command of VA-144 in 1966 and flew 211 missions over North Vietnam. Follow on commands included Commander Carrier Air Group Three, Commanding Officer of the USS Austin and the USS Iwo Jima. Although he retired in 1978 and began a new career, his heart and soul remained in the Navy. He attended many Class of 1950 functions, raised money for the Academy and looked forward to the many reunions he attended. His awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit (2), Distinguished Flying Cross (4), Air Medal (24), and the Navy Commendation Medal (5). Aside from the Naval Academy, Captain Powell attended George Washington University, the Naval War College, and Harvard Business School. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Frances Powell, his sons James Richard Powell III, Lesley William Powell, Lindsey Byron Powell, John Hector Powell and a daughter, Frances Cecile Bisset, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 12 noon with a visitation beginning at 10 a.m. at Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 West Broad St., Falls Church, Va. with interment at Arlington National Cemetery in the spring. The family asks for donations in lieu of flowers to be sent to the United States Naval Academy Foundation, 25 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401 Indicate "In Memory of Captain James Richard Powell"