Ida Powell

Ida Berger Powell, 88, of Lynchburg, Virginia, passed away peacefully at Westminster Canterbury on August 14 after many years’ endurance through chronic medical conditions.

Ida was born on August 30, 1936, to David Reid and Agnes Lillian Miller Berger and grew up on their dairy farm in Goode, Virginia. After graduating from New London Academy, she earned a B.S. (home economics) and M.S. (adult education), both from Virginia Tech. Her life’s work focused in volunteerism, Ida jokingly gave herself the title of “Pro-Bono Community Resource”—and her community spanned the world. Ida’s Christian faith in the God who sacrificially loves all of his children was the foundation from which her life’s activities flowed.

In her professional world, Ida taught home economics for three years at Boonsboro High School. For 25 years she was Association Executive for the Virginia Home Economics Association. At the national level she received the Distinguished Service Award and, with her sister and another colleague, created the Wiley-Berger Volunteer Service Award through the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences.

In her community services world, Ida found myriad ways to care for those often overlooked. Recognizing the challenges faced by a friend with a special needs child, they together founded a community-wide Sunday School class for children with intellectual disabilities. She was a former president and director emerita of The Arc of Central Virginia. The Central Virginia Community Services Board recognized her contributions safeguarding the rights of intellectually disabled persons by naming “The Powell Home”, a new residence adapted for four women moving from a state institution to community living. For 35 years Ida helped to nurture the growth of the Society of St. Andrew in its work to end hunger by gleaning otherwise wasted food. She provided leadership for the Old Dominion Job Corps, Western State Hospital, and Ferrum College. For these and other efforts, in 1990 she was awarded the American Institute for Public Service’s Jefferson Award.

In her church world, Ida was part of the beating heart of Centenary United Methodist Church in Lynchburg. She filled numerous formal positions at Centenary, though was especially fond of remembering the many hours laboring with dear friends in the church kitchen. Ida was the first female Lay Leader of the Lynchburg district, visiting and encouraging more than 90 churches (and in the rural areas, proudly announcing her farming bona fides). Ida cared deeply about the formal policies and activities of the United Methodist Church and so was an active participant at the national and international level. She served on the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund committee and the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. She was a delegate to gatherings in Geneva and Oslo, as well as the first official United Methodist delegation to the Vatican.

Ida was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Peggy Sue Berger, and her brother, David Crispin Berger. She is survived by her husband, William T. Powell, her children, Susan Powell of Arlington, Mary Powell Vartain (Richard) of Annapolis, and John Powell (Sarah) of Ruckersville, as well as eight grandchildren: Catherine Vartain Frilund (Henri), Lilly Vartain Williams (Jacob), Julie Vartain, Jesse Vartain, Michael Vartain, Madeline Powell, Lindsey Powell, Kenton Powell, and great-grandchildren Sophia Williams and Matthew Williams.

The funeral service will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church on August 23 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Society of St. Andrew.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family.