H. Wayne Pownell, 90, of Natick, peacefully died after battling leukemia surrounded by his family on November 26th, 2011.
Born June 23, 1921 in Yarnell, PA the son of the late Maude (Poorman) and Ellis B. Pownell, Wayne graduated from Bellfonte High School and the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Electrical engineering. During World War II he served in the Army Air Force in the Pacific as a troop carrier (C-47) pilot. During the Korean War he served as a helicopter pilot.
Wayne married Ongle Virginia Born on Oct 12, 1947 in Sidney OH and had a wonderful married life of 64 years. He is survived and will be missed by his wife Ginny and his son James and wife Janet both of Natick. He has two grandchildren Greg Pownell and Kim Pownell and her fiancée Doug Cross all of Boston. He was the brother of the late Eloise Pownell Hile and D. Russell Pownell from PA.
Wayne moved to Natick MA in the early 50’s to work at the Laboratory for Electronics (LFE) as an engineer and pilot. During the Apollo program in the 1960s Wayne was part of the team responsible for the radars on the Apollo space crafts. Following the Apollo program he worked for the Department of Defense.
Wayne was an avid golfer, a longtime member of the Framingham Country Club, Penn State fan and avid reader and traveler.
Visiting hours will be held in The John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (at Natick Common) NATICK on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 from 6-8 PM. His funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 11:00 AM in the Fisk Memorial United Methodist Church, 106 Walnut St. Natick. Burial with military honors will follow in Dell Park Cemetery, Natick.
In lieu of flowers, Wayne’s family requests that donations be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, (www.lls.org), 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605.
For directions and online guestbook to leave remembrances and messages of condolence please visit www.everettfuneral.com