William Powell Jr. Obituary

William Allan “Bill” Powell, Jr., 80, of Deltaville passed on Friday, June 6, 2025 at home surrounded by family.

Bill was born on February 6, 1945 in Badin, North Carolina to Allan and Edna Rae Powell. He attended Douglas Freeman High School in Richmond and graduated from University of Richmond in 1967. He was a proud member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

After college, he worked in a variety of jobs in media, including as a cameraman and producer for Channel 8. He also owned the much beloved Rainbow Inn restaurant and bar in the Fan District before finding a passion for sailing, which eventually took him to Key Biscayne, Florida where he began his work in construction. Key Biscayne is where he met the love of his life, Susan McClain, in 1979, and began their 45-year relationship. Bill and Susie moved to Deltaville in 1983, where Bill opened Rappahannock Woodworks Construction and Susie began working at Rappahannock General Hospital as they prepared to raise a family.

Bill was a significant contributor to this community. He and Susie brought together a group to raise money for the new St. Clare Walker Middle School auditorium and later to bring several Richmond Symphony concerts to the auditorium. He was one of the founders of the Deltaville Maritime Museum and a longtime volunteer there, including establishing and running “Billz Bistro”. He was an active member of the Lions Club, including president and spent many hours frying oyster fritters at the Oyster Festival. He was a Little League coach and an avid supporter of his children’s sports teams. In addition, he was a member of the Middlesex County Planning Commission.

He had a passion for Eastern North Carolina BBQ, as many know who attended 25 years of his annual Pig Roast. Bill had a deep love for music, as a performer himself, and as the longtime organizer of the Groovin’ in the Park music series at the Deltaville Maritime Museum. Everything he did, from building houses to loving his family, to serving his community, he did with passion, dedication and his whole self.

Bill is survived by his wife, Susan McClain Powell, and children, son, William Allan Powell, III (“Trey”) and wife, Thea Krulwich, of Brooklyn, NY; daughter, McClain Susan Powell and husband, Matt Olson, of Boston, MA; and grandchildren, Audre Krulwich-Powell, Samuel Krulwich-Powell and Antonio Olson. He is also survived by his brother, Brad Powell and his sister, Beth Yerxa.

No funeral service is planned at this time. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Deltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park in Bill’s name. (https://www.deltavillemuseum.com/donate).