William "Bill" Powell Sale Sr.

William Powell Sale of Fredericksburg passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, December 30, 2020. He went by many names: Bill, William, Pop, Grandpa, Chief, but regardless of how you knew him, he was nothing but genuine. He was the real deal. Pop spent a century sharing with us a love of things that last, and for some reason, we thought he always would.

Born August 26, 1920, in a corner of Caroline County, which long ago was absorbed by Fort A.P. Hill, Bill was the eldest son of Thomas and Irene (Flippo). In 1938, he graduated from College Heights High School in Fredericksburg and soon after was employed at the burgeoning Sylvania Plant just outside of town. This was followed by a brief sojourn to Pennsylvania where he worked for Westinghouse before enlisting in the Navy (1942). The following year, while on leave, he crossed paths with a young school teacher named Pauline Phillips and the two were married within a year. He would always recall this to be the most important event of his life. Bill found work as a skilled watch repairman, first in Newport News, and later in Fredericksburg, where his business acumen and family would grow. By the late 1940’s he was managing the store which would become Crown Jewelers. In 1961 he acquired a second downtown store, Jewel Box. With the love and support of Pauline and his two sons, Powell and David, he worked tirelessly at what he refused to call “work”. For the better part of 50 years, he actively invested in the city of Fredericksburg and never swayed in his belief that downtown would survive and prosper even after many merchants had left the area.

A longtime member of Fredericksburg Methodist Church, he served as chairman of the Board of Stewards. He devoted much of his energy to a multitude of local professional organizations including: Member 32° Masonic Lodge no. 4, Community Fund Chairman of Fredericksburg Lions Club, President Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, President Downtown Fredericksburg Retail Merchants Association, served as a Member of the Board of Farmer’s and Merchant’s Bank, and First VA bank, was one of the founding stockholders in Virginia Partners Bank, state Vice-President of VA Jaycees, and a founding member of The Fredericksburg Antique Automobile Club, and Riverside Dinner Theater.

There was no business to which Pop endeared himself to more than family. He enjoyed the company of kin and longed for us to simply get together and stay together. Even in his last days, he held an indelible spirit and ability to retell colorful episodes from his life, at times waxing philosophically on time, family, fairness, and love. He loved to be on or near the water enjoying a cigar after getting his fill of crabs (always the last to leave the table). A lifetime baseball fan, he enjoyed watching the Nationals on TV with his grandsons, and was thrilled when the Nats came to Fredericksburg. Pop was also a “car nut”, and shared his enthusiasm for antique autos with his sons and grandsons.

His brothers Battile, Charlie, and Morton preceded his passing as did his beloved Pauline. With her they shared 73 years of happiness, and one fight (that he would admit to). He leaves behind two sons, William Powell Jr. (Peggy) and David Wissner (Kathy); four grandsons, William Powell III (Betsy), Phillip Lowell (Shannon), Ryan David and Justin Allen; and two great-granddaughters, Catherine and Emily Sale. 100 years’ worth of places, nephews, nieces, friends, co-workers, business associates and trusted employees have gone before; and some remain, namely the friend of a lifetime, Mike Hicks, whom he loved like a son.

A private graveside service was held Tues. January 5 at Oak Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers were his four grandsons. Bill wished the following to be recognized as honorary pallbearers: Mike Hicks, Barclay Sale, Dr. Cherwick, Dr. Snow, Dr. Mussey, Conner Ashby, and Bill Young. The Sale family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the eight young women who allowed Pop to live out his remaining days surrounded by laughter, love, and great care: Aleah, Alicia, Brandy, Carmen, Haley, Mickey, Misty and Tate. The family also requests you to remember Mary Washington Hospice in lieu of flowers.

Remember him at the corner of Caroline and William, on the sidewalk smoking a cigar, watching the ebb and flow of the community in which he always believed.