Powell Granton Drinnen

Powell Granton Drinnen, age 87, of Knoxville, TN, passed away on March 2, 2026, from heart disease.

A 1957 graduate of Fulton High School, he served two years in the U.S. Army and one year in the Air Force National Guard before enjoying a long, successful career at UPS where he retired in 1996. In retirement, Powell worked part time at Brady Tools to nurture his interest in electrical equipment repair. An automobile aficionado, he was always up for a road trip and traveled extensively across the U.S. His travels also took him to Alaska, Bulgaria, and Greece. He loved riding motorcycles, woodworking, where he crafted beautiful handmade furniture for family and friends, diving for shells in the ocean, and serving as the "mayor" of Ellijay Way for the last 26 years.

Powell is preceded in death by his daughter Teresa Drinnen Siler, father Andrew Porter Drinnen, and mother Hattie Mae DeLozier Drinnen.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Kitty Gibson Drinnen, sister Charlene Drinnen Elliott, granddaughter Leigh White, grandson Andrew White (Audrey), great grandchildren Tatyana and Denitsa Dencheva and Jack and Hank White, and numerous cherished friends and family members.

The family will be receiving friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Bridges Funeral Home, with a funeral service to follow at 7 p.m. Family and friends will meet at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday at Bridges Funeral Home and proceed to Trentville Cemetery, 9236 Strawberry Plains Pike, Strawberry Plains, TN 37871, for an 11 a.m. interment. A reception will be held immediately following at Lyons Creek Baptist Church, 9235 Strawberry Plains Pike, Strawberry Plains, TN 37871.

Pallbearers: nephews Carter Miller, Greg Gibson, Brian Winstead, David Gibson, Buddy Gibson, Richard Gibson, Chris Larimer, and Avery Larimer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Powell's honor to the youth department at Lyons Creek Baptist Church, 9235 Strawberry Plains Pike, Strawberry Plains, TN 37871 (www.lyonscreek.org).

Arrangements by Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, Knoxville, TN 37924. www.bridgesfuneralhome.com