William A. POWELL

DELTAVILLE - Dr. William Allan Powell, 89, a resident of Deltaville, Va., passed away in his sleep on Dec. 21, 2010.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna Rae Bradshaw Powell, in 2006.
Beginning in 1952, Dr. Powell spent 34 years of his career as a Professor and pre-med advisor (1959-1986) in the Chemistry Department of the University of Richmond. He was Department Chairman for 23 years until just before he retired in 1986. Allan also acted as consultant for Dupont, Phillip Morris, and Texaco Experiment, Inc., and was heavily involved in the American Chemical Society, the Virginia Academy of Sciences, and the chemical fraternity, Gamma Sigma Epsilon.
Upon retirement, colleagues and friends funded the Dr. W. Allan Powell Chemistry Lectureship, which has brought to the University leading national and international scientists, including Nobel Prize winners, in Chemistry for both the signature lecture and student seminars. The Powell Lectures have been held annually since 1988.
The University of Richmond will fly their flags at half-mast over the New Year's weekend as a salute to his memory.
Born in Wallace, N.C., Allan graduated from Wake Forest University and Duke University, where he received his Ph.D., in Analytical Chemistry. He worked during the Second World War, as a supervising chemist, for Alcoa Aluminum. While in Richmond, he was a member of River Road Church Baptist, where he served as Deacon.
Moving to Deltaville after retirement, Allan and his wife, Edna Rae, remained busy running the Chesapeake Bay Shop. Allan also served as President of the Lion's Club, and was on the Committee charged with building two libraries for Middlesex County. He was a docent for the Deltaville Maritime Museum, and was active in the local Masonic Lodge. He was an active member of Zoar Baptist Church. He also taught in the County's Literacy Program.
He is survived by his sister, Catherine; his daughter and son-in-law of Raleigh, N.C., Beth and Ben Yerxa; sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Susie Powell of Deltaville, and Brad Powell and Nancy Paul of New York; his grandchildren, Trey Powell, McClain Powell, Mattie Yerxa, Daniel Yerxa, and Anna Yerxa; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec 30, at the Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home in Saluda, Va. Services will be at 11 a.m. Dec. 31, at Zoar Baptist Church in Deltaville.
The family requests donations, in lieu of flowers, to be made to either the Powell Lectureship at the University of Richmond; or the Deltaville Maritime Museum in Deltaville, P.O. Box 466, Deltaville, VA 23043. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.