Maryann Agnes Powell

Maryann Powell passed away peacefully at her home in Fredericksburg, Virginia on February 16, 2022, at the age of 94. Her parents were Sydney H. Goodwin (1888-1930) of Suffolk, England, and Margaret Goodwin (née Koo) (d. 1980) of Hong Kong.

Maryann was born in Shanghai, China and attended the local British school as a young girl. Because of her British citizenship, Maryann was placed in an internment camp when Shanghai was occupied by the Japanese during WWII. Her brother William (“Willie”) was a prominent journalist who made international headlines early in the Cold War when he was briefly imprisoned by communist Chinese authorities for “spying” for Great Britain. Willie predeceased her in 2018. After the war, she met and married, William Edward Gmaz (1915-1989), a senior U.S. Army enlisted man, and immigrated to the United States.

Maryann and William Gmaz had three children, Barbara (“Babs”), William (“Billy”), and CathyAnn. They later divorced and Maryann went on to wed Elmer J. Powell (1932-1994), also a senior U.S. Army enlisted man, and had her fourth child, Dennis.

Maryann held various jobs in addition to raising a family, including a long career as a supervisor at the Fort Belvoir Post Exchange in Virginia. After “retirement,” Maryann took on yet another demanding job as a supervisor at a local Wal-Mart jewelry counter in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a job which she proudly held until the age of 91.

In additional to her children, Maryann is survived by six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites remembrances of Maryann’s life in the form of donations to the VFW.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mullinsthompsonfredericksburg.com for the Powell family.