Charles "Charlie" Robert Powell

Charles Robert “Charlie” Powell was born Oct. 19, 1936 to Charles Lloyd and Ruby (Knoop) Powell in McGrawsville, Indiana, and passed away peacefully on June 30, 2025. Always welcoming, energetic and never one to know a stranger, Powell leaves a legacy of kindness and loving devotion, hospitality and a willingness to go above and beyond in all his endeavors. He was a faithful servant of the Lord, his family and the community he so joyfully served.

Born at the height of the Great Depression, Charlie’s family occupied a modest apartment above the only store in McGrawsville until moving to Indianapolis just before World War II.

Charlie grew up on Sugar Grove Avenue north of the old Bush Stadium and served as a bat boy for the Indianapolis Indians in his youth. He attended Arsenal Technical High School and graduated in the Class of 1954. He served his country in the Indiana National Guard then joined the Indianapolis Police Department as a patrolman in 1961, and retired from IPD as a Detective Sergeant in the juvenile division in 1981.

He met and married the love of his life, Myla, in 1964, and they adopted a son, (Charles) Eric, in 1971, establishing roots in Speedway, just west of the iconic track. Charlie and Myla celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in September 2024.

Following retirement from IPD, Charlie joined Indianapolis Power & Light Co.’s security division in 1982 and was a helpful, familiar face at the welcome desk in IPL’s Monument Circle headquarters and other facilities before retiring (again) in 1999.

After that, Charlie was able to mix work with passion by joining the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum as a host. He was a co-founder of the Museum’s IMS Grounds Tours and loved serving as an IMS ambassador to tourists, race fans and dignitaries. He was truly honored when Visit Indy presented him with a ROSE Award (Recognition of Service Excellence) in 2006 for his work at the Museum.

Powell also found time to serve the Town of Speedway as a member of the Parks Department board and Zoning board for over 25 years. The town council declared September 24, 2012 as “Charlie Powell Day” to recognize his service.

He was an active member of the Speedway Lions Club for 43 years, including a year as club president, and named a Melvin Jones and later a Dr. William P. Woods Fellow of the Lions International Foundation, its highest honors, for humanitarian services.

After refereeing youth soccer for several years, Powell switched to high school and college volleyball, traveling around Indiana and to tournaments nationwide in the 1990s to officiate women’s Division 3 and other volleyball tournaments.

What meant the most to him, however, was being a great husband, father, grandfather and servant of Christ. He was a deacon at Chapel Rock Christian for many years and volunteered with his wife in many ways, regularly participating in the Rockets, ROMEOs and other organizations dedicated to Christian fellowship.

Charlie’s love and devotion for his family cannot be understated; he was always beaming with pride and had a story to share about his son and grandkids. Despite his 20 years in law enforcement, Charlie always had an incredibly soft heart, could cry over even the smallest act of kindness, and his generosity had no boundaries.

Charlie Powell is survived by his wife, Myla; his older sister, JoAnn Boardman; his son, Eric and daughter-in-law, Tara, and grandchildren Ryan and Rachel Powell, and Kaitlyn and Courtney Brunswick. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation and a celebration of life is scheduled July 3, 2025 at Plainfield Christian Church, 800 Dan Jones Road, Plainfield, IN 46168. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (ET) followed by service at 1 p.m.

There will be a brief ceremony of burial at Floral Park Cemetery, 425 N. Holt Rd., Indianapolis, following the service.