Crosby Warren Powell, retired Lieutenant Colonel, Kansas Army National Guard (1946-1976) and Army PFC rifleman, as well as a Purple Heart veteran of one of the longest battles of World War II, serving in both the African that in the Italian ones, he died on February 17, 2023 at the age of 99 in Georgetown, Texas, where his daughter resides.
Born September 21, 1923, in Topeka, Kansas, to Olive Harriet (Mooney) Shafer and Clendenon Jason Powell, both of Halifax, Kansas, Crosby was known to friends and family simply as “Bing”. He married his high school sweetheart Ruth Geraldine Tyler in June 1946.
He adored his wife, and the two established a wonderfully happy home built on principles of hard work, faith in God, respect and service to others, responsibility, and frugality.
Crosby and Ruth welcomed their first and only child Crosleen in 1948. Over the next several decades, Crosby spent his career with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, where he worked as a freight department supervisor. A sports enthusiast, Crosby was a born athlete and avid tennis player, but baseball was his favorite sport. He pitched fast-pitch softball teams for both his church and his job until he was 60 years old.
For nearly 50 years, he was a part-time employee of the Washburn University athletic department. In 1969 he started getting tickets to sporting events. Subsequently, he staffed and operated the gates for women’s soccer, basketball and volleyball events. He did it up to the age of ninety. Crosby also worked Topeka High football games and took tickets to Civic Auditorium events for many years.
Crosby was preceded in death by his wife, mother, father, younger brother, and four half-siblings. Survivors include Crosleen Powell-Rye, daughter, grandchildren, and their families: Todd Powell (Karen), Doug Powell (Carolyn), and Robert Powell (Sue). He is also survived by his nieces and their families: Beverly Powell, Nora Mae Masters and Shirley Woodyard (Keith) and his sister-in-law Phyllis Powell.
Funeral services will be held at Mount Hope Chapel, 4700 SW 17th Street on Wednesday 1 March 2023 at 1pm Visiting will be held at noon in the chapel prior to the service.
You are welcome to join us in his farewell service, whether you know him well, by chance or not at all and want to honor the life of one who served his country well with great sacrifice. A special invitation is extended to all those wounded warriors who have also served our country in any conflict to protect our freedom.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517.
Published online February 22, 2023
Published in Topeka Capital Journal
