LTC(Ret) Luther Charles Powell passed away October 22, 2019. He was born on February 7, 1940 in DeRidder, Louisiana to Millie Lue Powell. He married the former Loretta Lacy on July 20, 1962. He was preceded in death by his mother and his siblings; Matthew Washington, Willie B. Smith and Edward Williams. He is survived by his wife, Loretta and his children; Donna Rios(Elvin), Kimberly Maye and Luther C. Powell, Jr. (Shannan) and LTC(Ret) Kevin R. Gainer(Sheryce). He is also survived by his grandchildren; Antonio, Cassandra (Robert) Alexander, Nicholas, Courtney and Brielle and nephews; Keith Garrett and Roger Washington, nieces; Deborah Kemper and Socorra Taylor, sister-in-law, RoseMary Willam and numerous cousins and friends.
Luther attended George Washington Carver High School in DeRidder. He received a Bachelor Degree in English Education from Southern University of Baton Rouge, LA and a Masters Degree in Mass Communications from Marshall University of Huntington, W. VA. LTC Powell was commissioned into the United States Army as a 2nd lieutenant upon graduating from Southern University in 1961. He served two tours in both Korea and Vietnam and was stationed at Fort Polk, LA, Fort Benning, GA, ROTC instructor in West Virginia and retired in 1984 at Fort Hood, TX. He joined the Gospel Service in 1975 at the 19th Street Chapel and then went to the 73rd Street service in 1981. In 1985, he went to the 76th Street service when the 73rd and 62nd Street Chapels combined and relocated to the 76th Street Chapel in 1991 to the current Comanche Chapel.
He completed the Infantry Officers Basic Course, Information Officers Basic Course; Infantry Officers Advance Course and Command and General Staff College. Among his military awards are the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with "V" Device One Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal One Oak Leaf Cluster. Some additional awards are the Chief of Chaplains Scroll of Honor 1997; Army Community Service Volunteer of Merit in 2004; AFAP Volunteer of the Year in 2002.
Some of his Black Achievements include the first Black to serve on the Copperas Cove Planning and Zoning Commission as the secretary in 1986-1991, on the Copperas Cove Board of Adjustments as chairman, 1991-94, as foreman of a Coryell County Grand Jury 1987, serve on the Copperas Cove City Charter Revision Committee 1988, and serve on the Copperas Cove Police Advisory Committee. He was also the first Black to be appointed as a Citizen at Large to the 1989 Metroplex Hospital Board of Directors and spokesperson for Lovett Ledger Elementary School during the CCISD Assessment of Resources for the arrival of the 5th Mech Division from Fort Polk, La 1991-92.
Other achievements include serving as one of eight facilitators at the Department of the Army AFAP Conference in Washington, DC 2006, Charter Member of CENTABB(Central Texas Alliance of Black Business), original membership chairman responsible for recruiting over 75 members.
Mr. Luther's entrepreneurship included owning 3 corporations-LYNS Industries, Inc., Texas Hill Country Food Processors, Inc. and PR Cleaning Services, LLC. His organization memberships included, Community in Schools, Lane Volunteer Center AFAP and Comanche Chapel Gospel Service. He worked as Adjunct Professor of Management at Central College from 1992 until retirement and he was selected as the Coryell Country Co-Ordinator for the 2000 census.
A visitation will be held on November 1, 2019 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Comanche Chapel Fort Hood, Texas. Service will follow at 2:00pm Burial will take place November 4, 2019 at 1:00 pm at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.
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