David "Dutch" Powell

David Lee "Dutch" Powell, 83, of Champaign died at 11:20 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, in hospice care at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. He was born on November 13th, 1941, in Kansas City, Kansas to Lambert and Irene Powell. While attending Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, he met his future wife, Barbara Fogarty. After graduating high school in 1960, he enrolled at the Benedictine Monastery in Conception, Missouri. He left the seminary after four months and returned to Kansas City. He enlisted in the Navy in May, 1961 and after completing basic training was assigned to submarine duty on the USS Rasher. Subsequently, he was accepted for nuclear power training in Windsor, CT. While there, he received notice that he had been accepted to the Naval Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP) and would be attending Purdue University in August 1964. He and Barb were married August 28, 1965 in Kansas City, Kansas. Their two daughters, Bridget and Kara were born in West Lafayette during Dutch's time at Purdue.

Dutch graduated from Purdue in 1968 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and attended Officer Training School in Newport, RI. Commissioned as an Ensign, he entered the pilot training program. During that time he completed a MS degree in Aeronautical Systems from the University of West Florida. After completing flight training at Pensacola and Kingsville, TX, he was awarded his wings in 1970 and was assigned to training in the A-7 Corsair in Lemoore, CA. In the autumn of 1970 he transferred to the Surface Warfare Officer designator and was assigned to the destroyer USS John R. Craig, based in San Diego, CA. While on the Craig, he was elevated from Communications Intelligence Command to Operations Officer and completed two deployments to Vietnam. In early 1974 he received orders to the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, Italy, where he taught Flight Physiology and Conversational English to a group of Italian ensigns who were assigned to flight training in Pensacola. Before moving to Italy, he and Barbara spent six months at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA learning Italian. Dutch and Barb often referred to their time in Italy as a two-year paid vacation. Their son Brendan was born there, and they spent much of their free time traveling in Italy and surrounding countries. After completing his tour at the Italian Naval Academy, Dutch returned to San Diego and was assigned to the cruiser USS Horne. The highlight of that tour was a three month deployment to the South Pacific, visiting Australia, New Zealand and several islands including Tahiti and Fiji.

In August, 1981 Dutch received orders to the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) unit at the University of Illinois. He served as Executive Officer until retiring as a Commander from the Navy in November 1987.

After his retirement, he was hired by the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois as the Director of Pre-college programs, specifically the Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) later named Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE). He retired from that position in 2002.

Dutch is survived by his beloved wife of sixty years, Barbara Powell (Fogarty) and his children Bridget Powell, Kara Downs, and Brendan (Annmarie) Powell. He also leaves behind grandchildren Oscar (Becca), Samuel, Mary Helen, and Ella Jane Powell and Jack and Charlie Downs. His first great-grandchild is expected in the coming weeks to Oscar and Becca Powell. He was preceded in death by his brothers Bernard Powell and Leo Powell and his infant grandchildren Benjamin and Bridget Downs.

Dutch touched many lives throughout his life. He and Barbara opened their home to anyone in need, allowing them to stay for a visit or, in several cases, for months at a time. He used his knowledge of education to help many young people navigate the college admissions process; we have heard from many people in the last weeks who still remember his help years later. He was a talented artist. He also loved driving. In addition to working for Uber and Lyft, he had a private business transporting people around the state.

His sense of humor was legendary. He loved people, and his heart for others led him to offer help to many who were struggling. He never met a stranger; they were all just friends he had not yet met. And above all, he loved the Lord.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, August 2, at 2:00 p.m. at Twin City Bible Church, 806 W. MIchigan Ave., Urbana, IL

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Renner Wikoff Chapel and Crematory, 1900 S. Philo Road, Urbana, IL 61802

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salt & Light, Carle Hospice, or Twin City Bible Church.