Junior Edward Powell, 82, a resident of Columbus passed away Sunday December 21, 2014 at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces.

A memorial service will be Monday December 29, 2014 at 4:30 in the afternoon with Charles A. Powell, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Columbus officiating. Inurnment will be private at Ft. Bayard National Cemetery.

Junior was born June 26, 1932 in Louisa County, Virginia. He served the Lord as a pastor and missionary for over 50 years which included being Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Columbus from 1982 to 1998.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Marianne Powell of Columbus; sons, Robert Powell (Suzie) of Hereford, AZ, Charlie Powell (Sarah) of Columbus; daughters, Paula Kolas (Richard) of Lubbock, TX, Helen Christian (Jeff) of Minsk, Belarus, and Rebecca Merkle of Columbus; 19 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers family requests that memorial contributions be made to Desert Missions Inc., P.O. Box 1176, Columbus, NM 88029.