Mildren I. Powell

Mildred I. Powell, 83, long-time Moses Lake resident, passed away Dec. 25, 2008, at Samaritan Hospital.

Mildred was born in Aberdeen, S.D., to Olef and Mabel Westberg. She moved to the Seattle area when she was about 25 to live with her aunt and uncle.

Mildred went to Guide Dogs for the Blind, to study to be a Dictaphone operator. While there, she met her husband Charles “Chuck” Powell while he was getting his first guide dog. Mildred later worked in the welfare department in Seattle. Charles and Mildred were married on Oct. 30, 1959, in Seattle.

Mildred and Charles were married for 45 years before he passed away on Dec. 2, 2004. They had two sons, Richard Powell of Moses Lake and Robert “Robbie” Powell of South Bend, Wash.

Desiring to live in a slower paced area, the Powell family moved to Moses Lake in June of 1978, where Charles had served previously in the military. Mildred and Charles fulfilled their dream of building their own home in the Sage Bay area of Moses Lake. They were also long-time members of the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Mildred spent the last nine months happily living with her wonderful caregiver Erma Rotella.

Mildred was preceded in death by her beloved husband Charles. She is survived by sons Richard and Robert, daughter-in-law Renae, granddaughters Shannon, Heather, Holly and Tiffany, and sister-in-law Marjorie Neal.

In lieu of flowers, Mildred requested that donations be made to Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., P.O. Box 3950, San Rafael, CA 94915. Please specify “In Memory of Mildred Powell” when making a donation.

Memorial services will be held on Jan. 17 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, in Moses Lake at 1 p.m.