Clarke G. Powell, III Obituary (1942 - 2012)

CLARKE GRAFF POWELL III (KF6TTE) Clarke Powell passed away peacefully May 22, 2012 with his wife by his side. He was born December 11, 1942 in Los Angeles California to Clarke Powell II and Gene Powell. He retired from AmeriGas in San Diego after 15 years of service before moving to Wickenburg in 2006 with his wife Jan. He is survived by his wife Jan, her daughter and husband Leslie and Brian Terhorst (San Diego, Ca) Her son Dale Krouse (Rohnert Park), Ca.), and his sister Jan (Pat) McCready (Mansfield, Ohio) He was an extremely gifted musician. Accomplished on the electric guitar, dobro and banjo. He began his professional music career at age 19 in Northern California. He also played in several country bands in the San Diego area, the last one before leaving called "The Fugitives". Clarke and his friend Wayne traveled to Nashville where he played at the Grand Ole Opry with Bashful Brother Oswald, his hero on the Dobro. Lastly playing dobro and banjo at the Wise Owl Senior Center with "Country Grass." He had a great respect for his fellow musicians. Although he never had a formal lesson and could not read music, he said he "always learned from the people he played with." Clarke also had an excellent eye for great photography as evidenced by his work at weddings and various photographs showcased at several places around town. He had several published in the Wickenburg Sun. Having taken many pictures in the Wickenburg area that his wife Jan printed on greeting cards. They . had started a business in San Diego called Sea Country Images and traveled to craft shows together. Clarke went to Ireland in 1997 and took all of his camera equipment plus his musical instruments. It was a time that he has treasured ever since. He came back with some beautiful photographs of Ireland. He and Wayne played in Pubs with the locals. (And maybe drank a little ale and some world famous Irish Whiskey.) Clarke was an avid Amateur Radio operator. He was very active on the weather net in the morning and evening. He loved talking to the other Hams on the radio and would each day document the weather stats on paper and relay them on the radio for Wickenburg. He had an extensive collection of watches and calculators. And they all did something different. He was dragged to a yard sale once and he purchased a Texas Instruments calculator for a dollar and it was worth over a $100. He was a diehard San Diego Chargers fan and would purchase season tickets each year.You could always see him wearing either his Fugitives hah or his Chargers hat. "My hubby resided at Emeritus in Sun City West for the past 4 months where he had the best care you could ever ask for. They even took good care of me. I will always appreciate them and the team of Hospice of the Valley crew that were always there for him and for me. I now say goodbye to my love. I know you are up there "pickin' and grinin'" with the big guys and singing the "Wabash Cannon Ball." I miss you terrible and I love you awful." Memorial Service will be Saturday June 2nd at St. Alban's Episcopal Church 357 W. Yavapai St. Wickenburg, Az. 85390 Donations can be made to Hospice of the Valley in his name. 1510 E. Flower St. Phoenix, AZ. 85014.5656