James J. “Sam” Powell, 78, a resident of Wilkes-Barre, passed away early Wednesday morning, October 29, 2014, at Kingston Health Care Center, following a brief battle with cancer.His beloved wife was the late Janet (Fritz) Powell, who passed away on May 12, 1988. Together, Jim and Janet shared 24 years of marriage.Born on March 21, 1936, in Nanticoke, James was the son of the late Samuel and Teresa (McGuire) Powell.Raised in Nanticoke, Jim was a graduate of Nanticoke High School, Class of 1954, and was actively involved in the Reunion Committee for his graduating class.A United States Army Veteran, Jim honorably served his country for three years during peacetime.Prior to his retirement, Jim was employed by Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke, and Keystone College, La Plume.Until this past April, Jim enjoyed working part-time at the Kingston Recreational Center, where he worked for the past 14 years.Jim was a member of Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish, Saint Aloysius Church, Wilkes-Barre.A man of many enjoyments, Jim especially enjoyed his daily coffee meetings with his friends, golfing, and talking to his friends about his grandchildren.In addition to his parents, Samuel and Teresa, and his wife, Janet, Jim was preceded in death by his brother, Samuel Powell.Jim is survived by his children, Judith Schrepfer, Shickshinny; Jane Leonard, Dallas; Jean Kramer, Marlton, New Jersey; Joanne Smith, Mountaintop; and James Powell, Jr., Alburtis; his 15 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; his brother, Richard Powell, Boca Raton, Florida; his sisters, Louise “Sissy” Krajewski, Levittown; and Rosemary Supkowski, Luzerne; his many nieces, nephews and friends.Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral which will be conducted on Saturday, November 01, 2014, at 9:15 AM from the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 AM in Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish, Saint Aloysius Church, 143 West Division Street, Wilkes-Barre.Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Hanover Township, where Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Army.Family and Friends are invited to call on Friday, October 31, 2014, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, at the funeral home.For additional information or to send the Powell Family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home web-site www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will be taken at the funeral home for a donation that will be given to the Kingston Recreational Center in Jim’s honor.