Gerald Powell

Gerald Powell was the fifth of seven children born to Mary Ruth Green and Lilburn Miller Powell on April 8, 1924, at their home in White Rock, Texas. Gerald liked to joke that the family was so poor that they couldn’t afford for him to have a middle name. The family lost their farm in the Great Depression and moved to Greenville, Texas in 1932. Gerald was valedictorian of his junior high class and was able to graduate in December 1941 from Greenville High School, one semester early. The attack on Pearl Harbor had just occurred, and Gerald set out for San Diego, California to work at a military aircraft factory as he was still too young to join the military.

While in California, he received notice that he had been drafted. He joined the Army and reported to boot camp at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls. He qualified to join the Army Specialized Training Program, a military initiative to meet wartime demands for junior officers and soldiers with skills in engineering, linguistics, and medicine. The Army sent him to attend a highly accelerated college program at Fordham University in New York City rather than the warfront. What an experience it was for him to be living in New York City as a young 19-year-old soldier. As the requirements for overseas replacements intensified, the Army had to abandon the ASTP program and assigned him to join with the 104th Infantry, The Timberwolves, with the 329th medical battalion as a medic. He deployed to France and entered combat in September 1944. His unit saw action in France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany. They were also the Liberators of the German concentration camps at Nordhausen and Middlebau Dora. The war in Europe ended on May 9, 1945, and Gerald arrived back in New York City on the SS Erickson on July 11, 1945. He was discharged from the Army and was able to use his GI Bill benefits to complete his college education at The University of Texas in Austin with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering.

Gerald began his career with The Dow Chemical Company in Freeport, Texas in 1951. There, he met the love of his life, Mildred Elane Taylor. They had their first date on Labor Day Weekend 1951. Following a whirlwind courtship, they were married just a few months later on December 21, 1951, and settled in Lake Jackson, Texas. While Gerald worked at the Dow Chemical Company, Mildred raised their family of three children: Debbie, Julie, and Scott. They were active in the community and at their church, First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson, where Gerald served as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and on many church committees. Gerald’s career with Dow progressed and after the children were grown, Gerald and Mildred had a chance to travel the world. They lived in Europe two different times, in Yugoslavia and in Spain, where Gerald managed large projects for Dow and he and Mildred embraced the opportunity it gave them to see new places.

After a successful career at Dow, it was time to retire, and Gerald and Mildred settled back in the United States choosing Horseshoe Bay, Texas as their retirement destination. They were active in the First Baptist Church of Marble Falls and the H.O.P.E. Sunday School Class for over 30 years. Gerald was a Deacon there and served on several church committees; but, his favorite role was as the spotlight operator for the annual church Christmas pageant. He loved to play golf and actually attended The Masters golf tournament to celebrate his 65th birthday. He and Mildred were avid travelers. In retirement, they traveled frequently visiting 6 of the 7 continents and made a trip around the world to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. He was a proud University of Texas alumni, a founding member of the Friends of Alec, on the Chancellor's Council, a Longhorn Foundation Member, and held season tickets for the Texas Longhorns home football games for almost 50 years. Gerald valued his education at the University of Texas so highly that he established an Endowed Scholarship for Chemical Engineering students that will provide a college education for deserving UT students for many years to come.

After Gerald lost his wife Mildred in 2022, he realized that he could not stay in the family home they loved in Horseshoe Bay. He moved to Longhorn Village in Austin, Texas, where he passed on February 18, 2024 just 7 weeks short of his 100th birthday. The family appreciates so much the loving care that he received from the Longhorn Village staff, Morning Glory caregivers and Heart to Heart Hospice. A family graveside service will be held for Gerald at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Bedias, Texas.

Gerald was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Mildred, his parents, his siblings: Houston, Foy, Melva Gene, John, Suzanne, and Gordon and their spouses. He is survived by his children: Deborah Kay Sorrell and husband, John; Julie Ann Harris and husband, Curt; and Scott Gerald Powell and wife Kathy. His legacy and spirit live on in his 8 grandchildren: Heather, John, Jennifer, Lauren, Katie, Tamara, Ashley and Courtney and his 15 great-grandchildren Wyatt, Seth, Reece, Eli, Colton, Declan, Matthew Douglas, Caroline, Zachary, Ian, Skylar, Cole, Martin, Peter and Stetson and many nieces, nephews and other extended family. He was truly blessed.

The family requests that memorials for Gerald be made to the Gerald and Mildred Powell Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship in Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas in Austin or Samaritan’s Purse-Freshwater Wells.