Dennis Dale Powell

Quiet, reserved and logical are trademark qualities that friends and family might use to describe Dennis Dale Powell. Dennis was an intuitive person. He was the type of person who could comfortably get lost in his thoughts, someone who had tremendous problem solving abilities. Always conscientious and focused on details, Dennis was a person who loved to imagine the possibilities of life.

Dennis was born on May 15, 1950 at San Jose Hospital in San Jose, California. He was the son of Leo and Nelma Powell. He was raised in San Jose, California. Dennis did not have to surround himself with people to be content. He was the type of person who enjoyed being alone rather than be part of a large crowd. He could be content for hours in some activity or be lost in his own imagination.

Dennis was adaptable and had good listening skills which he would use to his advantage when it came to family life. He grew up with six siblings. He had five younger brothers, Tom, Bob, Alan, Donald, Michael, and one sister, Janell. He rarely shied away from family discussions. He would debate with his siblings but if it turned into an argument, Dennis would often turn it into an agreement. In general, the family got along well and shared many memorable experiences.

In grade school, Dennis gravitated toward others who shared similar interests and enjoyed academics more than physical activity. He was always curious about what made things work, and he would excel at the things that called more for "brain" power. He delighted in the projects that required planning, exploration and solution. Dennis' memorable achievements included. As was evident by those who knew him, his most fun was to be found in books and in research.

During high school, Dennis excelled at the challenge of learning and was especially good at taking tests and exams. He could delight more in problem solving than in the more routine school work. As long as the intellectual challenges kept coming, Dennis was happy. He graduated from Andrew Hill High School in 1968. His favorite classes in high school were Drama, Choir, and Science.

If his friends from high school thought Dennis was a serious student, then those who knew him later really saw him shine during his college years. Once he set his sights on an academic track that excited him, he would easily pass up his classmates, turning out quality work and setting high academic standards. He majored in Accounting and Music at San Jose City College. During this time, Dennis was involved with a singing group and traveled throughout the western United States.

Although Dennis had a small group of friends, they were a close knit group and he enjoyed spending time with them. He liked to be able to engage them in discussions on the many topics he found interesting. Those who knew him well might describe Dennis as a good listener who could bring out a type of understanding from those around him that even surprised them. He was passionate in his commitments and would never intentionally hurt anyone. In high school, his best friend was Kenneth Dahl. Later in life, he became friends with Bob and Sharon Coomes, Carolyn Hart, and so many others.

Dennis finally found connection and fulfillment when on June 7, 1975; he exchanged wedding vows with Patricia M. Behl ("Pat") at the First Foursquare Church of San Jose, California. Patricia was influential in Dennis's life and brought a dimension of emotion and feelings to a man who mostly lived in his intellect. Dennis grew, blossomed and became more balanced because of their love and compassion.

Dennis was a hard worker and a good provider who loved his family even though he wasn’t very demonstrative. Dennis was blessed with two children, one son, Ken, and one daughter, Cindy. Dennis' sense of fun was often unleashed in his puns and witty, intelligent quips. It delighted him when the children would banter back and forth with him in this brainy exchange of mind contests. The children always knew how much Dennis loved them.

Finding the right type of job can be a challenge for anyone, but that was especially true for Dennis Dale Powell. He needed to find a career that would challenge him. Fortunately, he found a career path where he could use his natural intellect and his natural critical thinking skills. He was employed by H.L. Powell Paving, Inc. for over 40 years. He also was a partner in Dennis & Tom Constructions. Dennis was a dedicated and valued employee and was respected by his colleagues for his ability to grasp and understand difficult concepts.

Dennis was an Army veteran. He served in Panama and during the Vietnam era. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of SP4. Dennis was an asset to the military system and had the ability to appreciate the logic necessary to succeed in a regimented life style.

Hobbies were more than fun for Dennis because he challenged himself to learn the theory behind the actual activity. Knowing how things worked was more incentive than just performing and completing the task. His favorite pursuits were all things to do with audio equipment, fixing cars, barbecuing, reading, and helping others.

Dennis found great pleasure by relaxing and watching sports on TV or in person. He was an avid student of the game and enjoyed comparing his ideas and choices with what actually happened during the game. Even though he generally would keep his feelings to himself, Dennis would often use athletic events and sports as an outlet. In his college years, Dennis stayed active by playing volleyball. Recreational sports included volleyball and slow pitch softball. He also enjoyed just being a sports fan. Tops on his list was going to Oakland A's games with his son.

Friends and acquaintances usually viewed Dennis as the brains behind the operation and using this talent, he contributed a great deal to the many organizations to which he belonged. His own ability to adapt actually helped those around him to come up with creative approaches to a variety of situations. Dennis worked hard once he became committed to a goal, and he was a strong contributor whenever it came to the planning process. In high school, Dennis was a member of the Drama Club and Choir. In college, Dennis was joined Choir. Throughout his later years, Dennis became a valued and a contributing member of each volunteer organization.

Dennis's strong sense of faith helped him remain focused on the needs and concerns of others. These values brought him strength and helped to reinforce the importance of both his faith and the practice of his religion. He was a member of the Point Church of the Nazarene in San Jose, CA for almost 50 years. During that time, he was a Church Board member for 40 years, a Leader of the Tech crew at the Point, a Construction Supervisor, a Music Ministry, and a Drama Ministry.

Dennis was not a man who did things because he expected a reward in return. In fact, accepting recognition from others was sometimes difficult for him. People who served with Dennis recognized his quiet strength and his practical, logical, and discerning abilities. Still, he was awarded numerous honors throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included the Barnabas Award thru the Church of the Nazarene, for extraordinary service. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Award for 34 years of outstanding service as a trustee of the Point.

Travel was a luxury for Dennis and something that he took great pleasure in doing. Dennis was at his best in the planning stages, as he did research and learned all about the places that he would be visiting. He wasn't as fond of dealing with the actual organizing, but once he put together all of the information, he was more than happy to turn it all over to someone else and let them put together the itinerary. Favorite vacations included Disney World in Orlando, Florida; Kennedy Space Center in Florida; and his sister's vacation home in Clearlake, California.

Dennis especially enjoyed time with his pets. He could spend hours in private thought, and his faithful companions would just sit by his side or in his lap. One of Dennis's favorites was Holly, the cutest white mutt ever. They were best friends for 11 years.

Dennis Dale Powell passed away on January 19, 2014 at home in San Jose, California. Dennis fought a long battle against cancer. He is survived by his wife Pat; his children Ken and Cindy; his father Leo; and his five brothers Tom, Bob, Alan, Donald, Michael, and his sister Janell. Services were held at the Family Community Church, officiated by Reverend Greg Gates, Dennis' pastor at the Point Church of the Nazarene. Dennis was laid to rest in Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.

Those who knew and loved Dennis will miss his quiet gentleness, his curiosity and his ability to often turn work situations into fun experiences. He leaves all those who knew him with many wonderful memories.