Dillard Martin Powell

Dillard Martin Powell of Cary and Topsail Island died Sunday, June 21. He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, proud grandfather, friend, respected lawyer, decorated World War II veteran, civic leader and die-hard Wolfpack fan.

Powell was born August 20, 1925, the youngest child of Hattie Virginia & Ed Powell of Ruffin, NC. He was fascinated by aviation and obtained his pilot's license at age 15.

He was a veteran of World War II as a member of the 271st Infantry, 69th Division, European Theater serving in the Battle of the Bulge and receiving two Bronze Stars. The 69th Division is remembered as the unit that linked with the Soviet Union Army at Torgau and Strehla on the Elbe River dividing Germany in half which brought about the defeat of Germany. He was a part of the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp and the Occupation Forces after the war.

He graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Textile Management and went to work at Fieldcrest Mills in Eden, NC. He later obtained his MBA and JD from UNC-CH and was admitted to the North Carolina Bar.

In 1967, Powell and his family moved to Cary where he joined the faculty and taught at the NCSU College of Textiles. As a Cary resident he established his law practice in Cary rather than Raleigh and practiced until his death. Although he had closed his Cary office, he was always available to long-term clients some of which encompassed several generations.

Powell was instrumental in getting funds raised through the 69th Division for monuments that were designed, built and installed at both Strehla and Torgau overlooking the Elbe River. Bronze plaques were cast as part of the memorial and there were four copies made before the molds were destroyed. These plaques are located in Torgau, Strehla and with two members of the 69th Division Committee, one of whom was Powell.

Powell was a Past President of the Cary Rotary Club; Past President of the Cary Chamber of Commerce and was on the founding Board of the Cary Library. He was also a member of White Plains United Methodist Church having served in various leadership positions there.

Powell is survived by his wife, Peggy and will always be remembered by his three children and their spouses, Marcia and Dennis Pitts of Cary; Judy Wood of Williamsburg, VA, and John and Kim Powell of Cary. He was extremely proud of his nine grandchildren, Alan Pitts of Charlotte, NC; Lindsay Pitts of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Bryan and wife, Blair Wood of Washington, DC; Stephen Wood of Washington, DC; Michael Wood of New York City and Grant, Katherine, Matthew and Kendall Powell of Cary.

Powell is predecreased by his wife of 62 years, Anita; his parents and seven brothers and sisters: Forrest Powell, Marvin Powell, Robert Powell, Hubert Powell, Elmer Powell, Pauline Cross and Edna Gillie.

The Cary funeral service will be at White Plains United Methodist Church at 1PM on Saturday, June 27 with the family receiving afterward. Powell will be laid to rest in the family mausoleum at Happy Home Congregational Christian Church in Ruffin, NC at a 1PM graveside service on Sunday, June 28 with a reception and visitation to follow.

Donations may be made in Powell's honor to the Happy Home Congregational Christian Church, c/o Cemetery Fund, 6941 NC 700, Ruffin, NC 27326.

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