Raymond R. Powell

1930 - 2022

Powell

Raymond R. Powell

COL. U.S. Marine Corps. (Ret.)

Colonel Raymond R. Powell, USMC (Retired), the legendary test pilot known for his daring and candor, died peacefully on August 9, 2022 at the age of 91, with his beloved wife Beverly, children and grandchildren surrounding him.



Ray was born in Wellington, Texas on December 1, 1930, the son of two schoolteachers, Rose Starkey Powell and Raymond Powell and became a star high school athlete in football, basketball and the Golden Glove State Boxing Champion in Perryton, Texas. He graduated from Oklahoma University where he was a four year letterman and fullback on the 1950 National Championship team. It was there that he met and married Beverly Chapman, the love of his life, and they have been married for 71 years. He joined the Oklahoma University NROTC and received his Marine Corps officer commission through the PLC program and became the consummate Marine!



He went on to serve 28 years as a fighter pilot and a test pilot which included being selected among very stiff competition, Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base (Top Gun School), and being the first to fly and drop the live Snakeye bomb for which President Kennedy attended the demonstration. In 1965, Ray was selected by the Commandant of the Marine Corps as Marine Aviator of the Year. As Commander of VMFA 115, they won Fighter Squadron of the Year, and as Commander of MAG-41, VMFA-112 was the first Marine Reserve Squadron to receive the coveted Commandant of the Marine Corps Hanson Award as Fighter Squadron of the Year. He flew 4800 hours, and 200 combat missions, 113 carrier arrested landings, and 27 rotary wing shipboard landings, received multiple decorations including six Air Medals, and pioneered the development of early tactical nuclear weapons tactics.



He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Beverly Powell, five children, Randy Powell (Carol) of Frisco, Texas; Diane Britt, of Fairfax, Virginia; Bambi Mayfield (son-in-law Gail) of Colleyville, Texas; Rusty Powell (Kathryn)of Arlington, Texas; Ricky Powell (Debbie) of Arlington, Texas, 18 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and an adored younger sister, Barbara Rose Laughlin (Bob) of Austin, Texas.



Ray was a happy man who loved his life and will be sorely missed as a man of deep faith, devoted to his wife and children, and was loved, admired and respected by all who knew him.



Funeral Services will be held on August 23, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Fairfax United Methodist Church, 10300 Stratford Avenue Fairfax, VA. Graveside and interment with full military honors will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.



Memorial Contributions may be made to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

https://www.nmcrs.org/ or the Fairfax City Fire and Rescue Department.