Thomas M. Powell

Thomas Melvin Powell, 63, of Oak Hill, passed away unexpectedly on August 14, 2009. He was born December 3, 1945 in Longacre, WV, the first of three children born to the late George William Melvin Powell and Lilly Evelyn Dixon Powell. He was a 1963 graduate of Fayetteville High School and enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served as an avionics repairman in Vietnam. Following his military service, he attended West Virginia Institute of Technology and graduated in 1972. He was a member of the West Virginia Army National Guard until his retirement in 2006 as a Command Sergeant Major, and was the recipient of various decorations and awards. After 30 years of employment with the State of West Virginia, he retired as a probation officer from the West Virginia State Supreme Court. In his retirement, he was general manager of ATV on the Rock in Sophia and Country Club Village Project in Oak Hill. Tom was employed as a raft guide by Wildwater Unlimited during the formative years of the whitewater industry in Fayette County. Tom enjoyed an active life, including golf, football refereeing, WVU sports and traveling, most recently to Italy. His true joy in life was his family, including his wife Libbi, and daughters, Sarah and Jenny. Tom was deeply blessed with the arrival of his first granddaughter, Lily Elizabeth Fell in July 2009 and embraced the role of grandfather with enthusiasm. Preceding him in death were his father George, father-in-law James Warren Mahoney, and brother-in-law James Michael "Little Mike" Mahoney. Surviving are his loving wife of 32 years, Elizabeth "Libbi" Mahoney Powell; daughter Sarah Powell of Winston-Salem, NC; daughter, Jennifer Powell-Fell and son-in-law Nathan Fell of Scarbro and granddaughter Lily; mother Evelyn Powell of Fayetteville; mother-in-law Lois Mahoney of Oak Hill; brother Charles of Johnson City, TN and his wife, Sarah; sister Susan Kincaid of New Haven, WV; and sister-in-law Rebecca Mahoney of Oak Hill. Nieces and nephews include Thomas Powell, Kate Powell, Christy Somerville, Bobby Kincaid, Jason Kincaid, Michael Hice and several great-nieces and nephews. As a lifelong resident of Fayette County, Tom was well-known in the community and will be greatly missed by numerous friends. Funeral arrangements are being made by Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill. Visitation will be at Oak Hill Baptist Church from 4 PM until 7 PM Sunday evening, August 16. Rev. David Sneed and Rev. John Parrish will officiate the funeral services, which will be held at Oak Hill Baptist Church at 11 AM on Monday, August 17. Pallbearers will be Michael McCauley, Tom Booth, Sid Howard, Randy Rhodes, Mike Smith and Woody Duba. Honorary pallbearers include Colonel Spencer, Pat Hambric, Tom Stafford, Butch Christian, Buzz Elkins, Bruce Williams, Robert Martin and Larry Panachovic. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Oak Hill High School Alumni Association. The Thomas M. Powell Memorial Scholarship will benefit a member of the Oak Hill High School Girls' Soccer team, a team which Tom helped to establish in 1995. All donations may be mailed to P. O. Box 462, Oak Hill, WV, 25901. Online condolences may be sent to our website at: www.tyreefuneralhome.com