LTC (Ret) Robert L. Powell Jr. entered into rest on April 13, 2025 in San Francisco where he made his home since 1978. Graveside service will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Georgia Veterans Cemetery, Milledgeville, GA. He was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia, but moved with his family to Jacksonville, Florida when he was only a year and a half old. He credits his extraordinary parents (Robert and Odis Powell) for fostering his interest in education and participation in extracurricular activities. After graduating from New Stanton High School in Jacksonville, Robert attended Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia graduating with a bachelor's degree in history and was commissioned into the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. While at Hampton, Robert met and married Emily Alfreda Redd, a fellow student at Hampton. They have two lovely daughters, Robin and Rhonda Powell. Robert then embarked on a 23-year military career beginning at Fort Benning, Georgia and included assignments in Augsburg, Germany; Berlin, Germany; Fort Gordon, Georgia, two tours of duty in Vietnam; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; the Command and General Staff College, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In September 1982 he retired from military service when serving at the Presidio of San Francisco. During his military career, Lt. Col. Powell completed Airborne Jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was assigned to the famous "Checkpoint Charlie" at the Berlin Wall which separated West Berlin from East Berlin. Lt. Col. Powell was awarded several military honors including a Purple Heart (for wounds received in Vietnam) a Bronze Star with "V" device for heroism in combat, a Commendation Award with "V" device for heroism in combat and a Meritorious Service Medal. Lt. Col. Powell began his second career as the Senior Army Instructor for the JROTC program at Abraham Lincoln High School from October 1982 until his retirement in June 2010. During his tenure, the Abraham Lincoln JROTC program was rated by the Department of the Army as one of the most successful JROTC programs in the Western United States. In 1992, the Department of the Army assigned Lt. Col. Powell the additional duty of Director of Army Instruction for the entire San Francisco Unified School District. From 1992 onward, Lt. Col. Powell performed two jobs, Senior JROTC instructor at Abraham Lincoln High School and the Director of all JROTC programs in the San Francisco public schools. This was a critical period. Anti-war advocates were targeting San Francisco's JROTC programs for elimination. To save these valuable programs, Lt. Col. Powell was instrumental in the formation and development of "Friends of JROTC" an organization composed of JROTC family members, educators and concerned citizens. This organization was the key element in saving the JROTC program in the San Francisco schools. Survivors are his wife, Emily Powell; daughters, Robin Powell and Rhonda Powell; and a host of other relatives. Williams Funeral Home, 2945 Old Tobacco Road, Hephzibah, GA Graveside service Tuesday, April 29, 2025 11:00 AM Georgia Veterans Cemetery 2617 Vinson Hwy southeast Milledgeville,GA 31061