Sameul Richard (Dickie) Powell of Galena, MD. passed away Saturday, November 29, 2025 in Chestertown MD surrounded by his loving family. He was 89 years old.

Dickie was born August 3rd, 1936, in Massey, MD to the late Edwin Richard (Buster) and Helen Caroline Edwards.  He attended school in Massey until the one room schoolhouse closed at which time he attended school in Galena and graduated from Galena High School in 1954.

Dickie joined the Army National Guard in 1953 and served until March 1955.  He joined the Air Force in 1955 and served to December 1958 at which time he was honorably discharged.  While in the Air Force he was stationed in the Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal.  Upon his return from the Air Force, he restarted his volunteerism with the Galena Volunteer Fire Company.  While with the Galena VFC, he held the following positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, Director, Chief, Assistant Chief, Chief Engineer and Assistant Chief Engineer.  He was awarded his 70 years of service pin at this year's banquet (2025).

He was active with the Kent & Queen Anne Volunteer Fire, EMS & Rescue Association, where he served a term as President & Secretary/Treasurer.  He was inducted into the Kent & Queen Anne's Volunteer Fire, EMS & Rescue Association Hall of Fame in 1991.

He was active with the Kent County Chiefs' Association where he served as Secretary.  He was inducted into the Kent County Fire and EMS Hall of Fame in 2024.

He was active with the Maryland State Firefighters Association representing Galena as a delegate from 1959 to 2025.  He served on the Executive Committee from 1978 – 1981 and as the Chairman 1980 – 1981.  In 1985 he was elected to the Board of Trustees and was re-elected in 1990 and served as the Chairman his second term.  He was inducted into the Maryland State Firefighters Association Hall of Fame in 1992 and was awarded the Marbery F. Gates Service Cup Award in 2015 for over 50 years of service to Galena Vol. Fire Company and the Maryland State Firefighters Association.

He met the love of his life, Joyce Ellen Sapp, in 1959 and they married on October 15th, 1960, making their home in Galena where they raised their four children.

Dickie was active with the Town of Galena, serving on the Town Council for 12 years.  He also served on the Appeals Board.  He was Chairman of the town tree committee and help start the Arbor Day Celebration and was very instrumental in getting Galena being named a Tree City, USA.

Dickie worked as a Forest Ranger for the State of Maryland from 1963 to 1980, assigned to Black Hill Ranger Station, North East, MD.  He was on one of the very first firefighting crews that the State of Maryland deployed out west to help with forest fires.  In 1980 he was hired by the Maryland State Fire Marshalls Office as a Deputy State Fire Marshal, assigned to the North East Regional Office, Bel Air, MD, covering Harford, Cecil and Kent Counties.  Towards the end of his career, he was also assigned to the Eastern Shore Regional Office, Easton MD with Queen Anne's County being his primary coverage area.  He had the distinction of being the only Deputy State Fire Marshal assigned to two Regional Offices.  Upon his retirement from the State of Maryland, he drove a school bus in Kent County much to the dismay of his grandchildren.

Dickie enjoyed camping and in 1990 he secured a seasonal site at Port Delmarva, Rehoboth Beach, DE.  Spending weekends to start and once Joyce and he were both retired they would spend their summers at the Port.  He served on the Board of Directors for 19 years and 15 as the President and was awarded Director Emeritus in 2016.  They camped and volunteered at Collier Seminole State Park during their early retirement days.

Besides being a life member of the Galena Vol. Fire Co., he was a member of C. Henry Price, II American Legion Post 246, Betterton, MD. Life member of the Maryland Fire Chief's Association.

Along with his parents he was proceeded in death by his sister Joan Painter, granddaughter Kristen Sagar, niece Kem Legg and brothers-in-law Charles Painter, Vernon Harding and Franklin Newnam.

Dickie is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joyce S., his children Wm. Nicholas, and Carol, Smyrna, DE., Partick B. and Lisa, Galena, MD., Sandra L., Galena MD., Christopher A., and Robin, Milford, DE., His grandchildren Danny Hill (Christine), Alex Sagar (Jennifer), Brian Powell (Gwen), Kyle Powell (Heather),  Michael Powell (Jess), Dylan Powell (Megan), Cheyenne Watson (Nick), and Kirby Powell, his great grandchildren Leah Buckler, Matthew Buckler, Riley Lawson, Angel Cote, Andrew Hill, Mason Lively, Clay Sagar, Colt Watson, Kylie Hill, Mya Powell, Skylar Powell and Phoebe Powell, nieces Jackie Painter, Sherri Cunningham, Lisa Shaw and Julie Delciotto, nephew Daniel McHenry and sisters-in-law Joan Harding and Jane Newnam.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Dennis Catholic Church 153 N. Main St., Galena on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 11am, where military honors will be presented.  Fireman honors along with a luncheon will follow at the Galena Volunteer Fire Company 90 East Cross St., Galena.  A private interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dickie's memory to the Galena Volunteer Fire Company, Inc., P.O. Box 189, Galena, MD. 21635 or St. Dennis Catholic Church, 153 N. Main Street, Galena, MD 21635.

Arrangements made by Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech.