Columbus
Jim “Pinky” Powell, 83, of Columbus, died Thursday, June 15, at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Jim is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara; his children, Cathi (Mark) Jones, Joe (Pat) Powell, Jim (Amy DeClue) Powell and Tom (Diane) Powell, all of Columbus; his grandchildren, Jamie (Matt) Hoffman of Columbus, Matthew (Katie) Rust of Columbus, Kate Powell of Chico, California, Claire Powell of Bradenton, Florida, David Powell of Plano, Texas, and Ella Powell of Columbus; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.
Jim was born Oct. 6, 1933, in Huntingburg and graduated from Huntingburg High School in 1953. He was named Second Team All-State for basketball and was offered full scholarships to Tulane, Mississippi State and Alabama.
He accepted a scholarship from Indiana State and then decided to transfer to Oakland City University his sophomore year, where he went on to score 1,059 points in three years. Jim was inducted into the Oakland City University Hall of Fame in 2009.
Jim began his teaching and coaching careers in Holland, Indiana, and moved on to Hartford City, Indiana, in 1963, where he served as athletic director and head basketball coach for five years. In 1964, he was named conference Coach of the Year for the Central Indiana Conference.
In 1968, Jim moved to Columbus, where he then served throughout the years as counselor, director of guidance, assistant principal and principal of Columbus North High School until his retirement in 1993. He served on many local, state and national committees, including the President of Indiana Association of Colleges and Financial Aid and, more recently, the Otter Creek Golf Board.
Jim loved to hunt, fish and play golf. He was an elder at Grace Lutheran Church.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 23, 2017, at Grace Lutheran Church with the Rev. John Armstrong officiating. Burial will follow at Garland Brook Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to service time Friday, also at the church.
Memorials in Jim’s name are suggested to the Grace Lutheran Church Foundation, 3201 Central Ave., Columbus, Indiana 47203.
The family will receive online condolences at www.Myers-Reed.com.
Myers-Reed Chapel is serving the Powell family.
