Geneva Powell Bortel, a dedicated social worker and pillar in her local and church communities, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday morning, April 19, 2026, in Cedar Park, Texas. She was 83 years old.
Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on Valentine’s Day in 1943 to Leona Erle and Eugene "Bill" Powell, Geneva lived a life defined by the love and compassion her birthday symbolizes. After a fulfilling career as a social worker in San Antonio and Victoria, she dedicated her retirement to her family, churches, and the communities she loved.
Geneva was a constant presence in the Inez Community Benefit Association, where she devoted her time to helping the organization and managing the Inez Community Center. She took great pride in being part of the "heart of Inez.” A woman of profound faith, she was also an active member of both Northside Baptist Church and Emmanuel Lutheran Church, consistently volunteering her time and talents to help others.
Geneva was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Albert Garfield Hall and Edwin Bortel; her brothers, Phil and Ken Powell; and her cherished best friend and sister-in-spirit, Evelyn Hall.
Her legacy of kindness lives on through her family, daughters, Lara Hall (with partner, Chip) of Leander, Lani Draper (with husband, Alan) of Austin; granddaughters, Lucy, Emily and Claire Draper; surrogate sons, she held a special place in her heart for her nephews, PJ and Aaron Powell and Evelyn’s sons, Larry, Robert, Kenneth and Douglas Hall, whom she loved as her own; cousins, Conny McKelvey, John Huey and Sara Smith.
She is also survived by a large, beloved family of nephews and nieces, step-nephews and step-nieces, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and great-grand-nieces and great-grand-nephews.
The family invited friends and loved ones to celebrate Geneva’s life and share memories.
Visitation is Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Rosewood Funeral Chapel.
Funeral services are on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Rosewood Funeral Chapel with interment to immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Inez, Texas, where she will be laid to rest alongside her loved ones.
Geneva was a proud breast cancer survivor and a woman of immense resilience. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to organizations that honor her strength and the challenges she overcame:
Memorial donations may be made to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) – Supporting the research that gave her years as a survivor, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research – To fund the search for a cure for the neurological diseases that she and her loved ones fought so bravely.
