Mr Powell moved to RAF St Mawgan, in Cornwall, before being posted to RAF Wattisham in 1971.
He bought a house in Hadleigh and remained there ever since, becoming a committed member of the community and bringing up three children who gave him four grandchildren.
On leaving the RAF, Mr Powell worked for the Prudential and became someone to confide in and helped those who grieved when they lost loved ones.
Mrs Powell said her husband was "caring, loving, and very family-orientated", adding his family was his life.
"He never complained throughout his illness, he always kept the pain from us,” she said.