Jerry W. Powell, age 91, of Celina, passed away at his home on Thursday, November 24, 2022.

He was born May 26, 1931, in Washington Township, Mercer County, to Benjamin F. and Luetta (Curless) Powell. On February 10, 1952, Jerry married the cutest girl in his third-grade class, Betty L. Highley. Betty passed away only 9 days before him, on November 15th. This year had marked their 70th Anniversary.

Surviving are their four children: Thomas L. (Brenda S.) Powell of Celina, Linda S. (Richard K.) Story of St. Paris, Rhonda E. (Paul A. Agnello) Powell of Columbus, and Doris A. (Gerald A.) Metz of Maumee. Also surviving is a brother, Bill Powell of Portland, IN, a sister-in-law, Lois Jean Powell of Rockford, and a brother-in-law, James (Georgia) Highley of Celina. Jerry leaves behind 10 grandchildren, Melanie (Todd) Runkle of Wooster, Brian (Stacy) Powell and Cynthia (Rodd) Voisard, all of Coldwater, Melissa Powell of Celina, Sarah (Dyrs) Owens of Elkhart, IN, Rachel (Thomas) Rogan of Marysville, Sydney (Chad Spisz) Agnello, Kyle (Rachel) Metz, and Katie (Nickolas) Butsko, all of Columbus, and Kurt Metz of Broomfield, CO; 10 great-grandchildren, plus one on the way; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Jerry in death were his parents; brothers: Richard, Robert, Roger, his twin Jack, and Wright Powell; sisters: Hope Stein, Mary Jane Wurster, Violet Shirk, Joanne Hellwarth Jutte, Delilah Beams, and Mabel Ellis.

Jerry was a 1950 graduate of Celina High School, and an Army veteran, serving on the front lines in Korea. He worked on the family farm until he was 86 years old. During winter downtime on the farm, Jerry worked at Coldwater Meat Service. Jerry was a longtime member of the Wabash Church until its closing in 2008. At the Wabash Church, he served as Superintendent of Sunday School, was an Adult Sunday School Teacher, and held numerous church offices. In recent years, Jerry attended the Celina Church of the Nazarene. He served as a Washington Township Trustee for 24 years, and also served on the boards of the Wabash Telephone Company, The Celina Equity, and Mercer County Community Hospital. Jerry was a member of Celina VFW Post #5713, Coldwater American Legion Post #470, and the Farm Bureau Council.

He had traveled to all 50 States, as well as 3 Continents. Jerry was a very talented woodworker who made many pieces of furniture and a grandfather clock. Other projects he made over the years were rocking horses for all the grandkids and great grandkids and numerous step stools as wedding gifts for friends and family. Jerry enjoyed tomato gardening, beekeeping, hunting, raising homing pigeons, and playing church dartball and volleyball.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 28, at the Celina Church of the Nazarene, with Pastor Chris Riffle, officiating. Burial will follow at Swamp College Cemetery, Celina. Graveside Military Rites will be conducted by Celina VFW Post #5713 and Celina American Legion Post #210.

Calling Hours will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 27, at W.H. Dick & Sons-Hellwarth Funeral Home in Celina, and an hour prior to time of Services on Monday, at the Nazarene Church.

Memorial Contributions may be made to EverHeart Hospice.

Condolences can be expressed to the Powell family at dickandsonshellwarthfh.com.