Obituary of Graham Reginald Powell

Graham Reginald Powell passed away peacefully, with his children at his side, on February 28, 2025 at Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital. Graham was born on March 19, 1935, in Hampton-on-Thames, England. He was the son of Reginald and Jennie (Saunders) Powell. 

When they were 12 years old, Graham met the love of his life, Patricia Jones, at Thames Valley Grammar School. Later, Graham attended the University Edinburgh, earning a BSc degree in Forestry in 1956, followed by post-graduate First Class honours in Forestry Silviculture in 1957 from the University of Edinburgh. In 1960, after completing a required 2 years in the army, Graham and Patricia were married and moved to Fredericton, where he started a MSc in Forestry degree at the University of New Brunswick under a Beaverbrook United Kingdom Fellowship. Months after receiving his Master's, he was offered a job at UNB and started a family with Patricia. He earned a PhD degree in Tree Development and Tree Reproduction from the University of Edinburgh through correspondence in 1971. He taught various forestry/tree related courses over 37 years as a faculty member in Forestry at UNB. For 10 of those years he was also Director of Graduate Studies in Forestry. Graham retired in 1995, and was appointed Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management at UNB two years later. In 1999, “in recognition of his unique and outstanding achievement in forestry research” he received the Canadian Forestry Scientific Achievement Award for the Canadian Institute of Forestry. As a retirement project, he wrote a major book entitled “Lives of Conifers: A Comparative Account of the Coniferous Tree Indigenous to Northeastern North America”, published in 2009. Since then, in a similar view, he has been working on “Lives of Birches, Ironwood and Maples” and “New Brunswick Tree and Shrub Species of Concern: A Field Guide”. 

Graham had a strong faith and together with Patricia, were both founding members of the Forest Hill United Church.  He was the first Sunday School Superintendent, a long-time chair of the official board, a member of many congregational committees, a trustee and a member of the choir.  He was also a member of Woolastook Presbytery, including time as its chairperson and an essential component of the Pastoral Care and Support committee. They loved to travel and made wonderful memories, accumulating thousands of photos from their trips abroad.

Graham is survived by his children, Kevin Powell and Andrea (Todd) Downing; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Katie), Ryan (Sonja), Kelsey (Luke) Dunfield and Sean; great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Brooks; sister, Jennifer (David) Pfluger, Scotland and many nieces and nephews.  Besides his parents he was predeceased by his loving wife, Patricia; and brother, John Powell. 

The family wishes to say thank-you to all those who provided care and support.

The Memorial Service for Graham will take place at Forest Hill United Church on Friday, March 7, 2025 at 2:00pm, with Rev. Dr. Kelly Burke officiating. A recording of the service may be watched here: vimeo.com/1063943878 - password: powell

For those who wish, donations in Graham’s memory may be made to Forest Hill United Church.