James Richard Powell

James Richard Powell, 58, of Slippery Rock passed away Tuesday at his home following an extended illness.

He was born Aug. 31, 1957, in Victoria, Texas, to Richard Leroy Powell and Erma Jewell McCleskey Powell. He married Julie Elaine Mahan on Oct. 2, 1982.

He graduated from East Stroudsburg High School in 1975 and from West Chester University in 1979 with a degree in music education. He graduated with a degree in turf grass management from Penn State University in 1981.

Jim was a sales representative for E.H. Griffith of Pittsburgh, a company described by the family as “very family oriented.”

He was a member of the Center Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock, and he enjoyed fishing, hunting, farming and golfing.

Survivors include his wife, Julie, at home; his daughter, Jenny E. Kaplan and her husband, Bryan, of Pittsburgh; his son, Joshua J. Powell and his fiance, Emily A. Peabody, of Erie; his mother, Erma Powell of East Stroudsburg; two sisters, Cindy Wallace and her husband, Lloyd, of Stroudsburg and Sharon Powell of Newton, N.Y.; and his grandson, Evan Kaplan.

He was preceded in death by his father.

POWELL — The family of James Richard Powell, who died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, will receive friends from 10 a.m. to noon and 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at the Center Presbyterian Church with the Rev. William Mumaw presiding.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Northwestern PA Golf Course Superintendents Association, P.O. Box 157, Forestville, PA 16035 or the Greater Pittsburgh Golf Course Superintendents Association, P.O. Box 36, Imperial, PA 15126.