John Francis Powell Jr.

He was a 1952 graduate of West Lafayette High School. After serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain from 1956 -1957, he returned to the dairy farm which has been in the family since 1832 near Fresno.

He is survived by his wife Mary Edith (Cunningham) Meek Powell, whom he married on August 2, 1957. Also surviving are children Craig (Lindy) Powell, Fresno, Jan (Greg) Rice, Coshocton, and Brian (Andrea) Powell, Fresno. Grandchildren include Erika (Chris) Bowin, Ryan (Caitlin) Powell, Lauren Powell (Austin Riddle), Kelsey Powell, Julie (Ben) Liston, Melanie (Joe) France, John (Stacie) Rice, Cody (Ashley) Carnes and Anna (Russell) Sprague. Great Grandchildren Lydia, Ava, and Amelia Liston, Sawyer, Holden, Madelynn and Archie Bowin, Parker and Wesley Rice, Draven and Payton Riddle, Nora France, Leonardo Dutiel, and Kamryn Carnes (arriving in March of 2025). Also surviving is twin sister Betty Lovingood, Roanoke, Virginia.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by sister Amelia Powell.

John was a dairy farmer and in 1969, he began as a substitute rural mail carrier and became full time in 1984, retiring in 1998. Farming continued to be his focus as he frequently helped his boys on their farms. His favorite saying when showing up to help was “I needed to blow the stink off.” John also enjoyed his 1925 Ford Model T and 1950 Farmall H Tractor that was purchased new and was used for many years on the farm.

He was a past board member of Coshocton County Farm Bureau, Coshocton County Extension Advisory Committee, Coshocton County Dairy Service Unit, Supervisor of Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District, Ohio State Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Milk Mkt. Inc., and The Frontier Power Company. He was a past advisor of White Eyes 4-H Club and a past member of Blue Ridge Grange. John was also a member of West Lafayette Rotary, and a lifelong member of the Fresno United Methodist Church.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Given-Dawson-Paisley Funeral Home and from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Friday, January 17, 2025. A funeral service will be held on Friday at 11:00 am at the funeral home with Pastor Dan Eggan officiating. Burial will follow at Fairfield Cemetery with the Coshocton County Veterans Honor Guard performing military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made in John’s name to Fresno United Methodist Church.

An online memorial can be viewed at www.given-dawson-paisleyfh.com.