Charles Robert "Bob" Powell

Born October 27, 1924 in Catawba County, he was the son of the late George Robert Powell and Thelma Ruth Robinson Powell.

Bob was a graduate of Newton-Conover High School and received a business degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 1945. He graduated in the first class of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of North Carolina, married his loving wife, Margie Carpenter Powell, and left for World War II service aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hancock in the Pacific fleet, all in 1945.

Bob returned home to Newton and wife, Margie, at the end of World War II and founded Catawba Realty and Insurance Company, along with G. Sam Rowe and Joe Robinson, in 1946. He was called back into active duty in 1952 during the Korean War period and served as a Navy Lieutenant aboard the USS carriers Midway and Wasp until September 1953. Bob remained in the Navy Reserves until the 1970’s, retiring with the rank of Commander.

Bob operated Catawba Realty and Insurance in Newton until retiring in 2012. He served the citizens of Newton as chairman of the Newton Planning and Zoning Board, a member of the Newton Recreation Commission, and served as a Newton alderman from 1969 to 1977. He also served as chairman of the Official Board of First United Methodist Church in Newton and as a Commander of American Legion Post 16 of Newton.

Bob was married to the love of his life, Margie Carpenter Powell for 69 years. Margie preceded him in death in November of 2014. A sister, Frances Shelton Powell preceded him in death in 1937 at the age of 3.

Left with many good memories are sons, Charles Robert “Rob” Powell, Jr. and wife, Linda of Catawba, and William D. “Bill” Powell and wife, Dawn of Newton; daughter, Catherine R. “Cathy” Powell and partner, Janie Lee of Las Vegas, NV; and grandson, William D. “Will” Powell, II of Newton, NC.

The funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 11, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Newton, with Rev. Dr. David Greene and Rev. Lara Greene officiating. Burial will follow at Eastview Cemetery in Newton.

The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.

Honorary pallbearers will be the staff of Catawba Realty.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 926, Newton, NC 28658, or to Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658.