Date of death: 4/26/2018
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1948
Fr. Paul ôPikeö Powell, a priest of the Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky, passed away on April 26, 2018 at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital at the age of 95. He had just celebrated his 70th anniversary of priestly ordination a few weeks earlier on April 5. Fr. Powell was born in Union County, Kentucky on Feb. 1, 1923 to Edward Fenwick Powell and Martha Elizabeth Powell. He attended grade school at St. Agnes Catholic School in Uniontown from 1929-1937, and continued high school at St. Agnes from 1937-1941. He attended college seminary at St. MaryÆs College in St. Mary, Kentucky, and continued on at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana, where he graduated in 1948. Fr. Powell was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Owensboro by Bishop Francis R. Cotton at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro on April 5, 1948. His first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Stephen Cathedral from 1948-1954, during which he also cared for Blessed Sacrament Chapel and School in Owensboro. He then served as associate pastor of St. Jerome Parish in Fancy Farm from 1954-1957. During this time he also oversaw St. Charles Parish in Bardwell and St. Denis Parish in Fancy Farm. His first role as pastor was at St. Paul Parish in Grayson County from 1957-1965. Following that assignment, Fr. Powell then served as pastor at the following parishes: Sacred Heart Parish in Russellville from 1965-1971; St. Pius X Parish in Owensboro from 1971-1976; and St. Francis de Sales Parish in Paducah from 1976-1982. He served as pastor of St. Peter of Alcantara in Stanley from 1982-1999; during this time he also served as pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Reed in 1987-1992. Fr. Powell served as pastor at St. Michael Parish in Sebree and Holy Cross Parish in Providence from 1999-2002. His other parish assignments included serving at SS. Joseph and Paul Parish in Owensboro, St. Martin Parish in Rome, and St. Elizabeth Parish in Curdsville. Fr. PowellÆs other roles included serving as a consultor on the PriestsÆ Council and serving two terms on the Priest Personnel Board for the Diocese of Owensboro. Fr. Powell also provided the inspiration and encouragement for the building of the Divine Mercy Roman Catholic chapel located in the Archdiocese of Lahore in Pakistan. For the last several years of his life, Fr. Powell resided at the Carmel Home in Owensboro. Fr. Powell was preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings Mary (Henry) Mann, Christine Powell, Alice (Carl) Utley, Leo (Mary) Powell, Clarence (Virginia) Powell, George (Catherine) Powell, Richard (Linnie) Powell and a brother, Joe, who died in childhood. He is survived by several nieces and nephews.