Obituaries

December 12, 1937 to November 21, 2010

WINAMAC - Beverly Powers, 72, of 900 W. SR 14, Winamac, passed away at 9:11 a.m.,Sunday, Nov. 21, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend.

She was born Dec. 12, 1937 in Winamac. On May 31, 1958 in Winamac, she married Robert Powers. He survives.

Also surviving are:
Valerie Powers, Winamac, Daughter
Kathryn Rodela, Osceola, Daughter
Scott A.(Tammy S.) Powers, Star City, Son & daughter-in-law
Rebecca Rausch Spencer, Granddaughter
David Rausch LaPorte, Grandson
Ryan Rodela Osceloa, Grandson
Andrew Rodela Osceloa, Grandson
Melissa (Brandon) Hickle Winamac, Granddaughter
SaDonna (Matthew) Schambers Star City, Grandaughter
Tonya (Drew) Allen Star City, Grandaughter
Rose Powers Star City, Grandaughter
Summer Rose Powers-Budka, Great granddaughter
Kaleb Hickle, Great grandson
Kale Hickle, Great grandson
Addison Allen, Great grandson
Chase Allen, Great grandson
Hayden Schambers, Great grandson
Logan Schambers, Great grandson

She was preceded in death by:
Len Ludwig, Father
Frances Tarman Ludwig, Mother

Mrs. Powers was the youngest of four children. Her ancestors reach back to the Revolutionary War when one of her great-great-grandfathers by the name of Aquila Tarman was born in Maryland on Aug. 15, 1776, making her a 10-generation citizen. She graduated from Winamac High School in 1955. After graduation she was a secretary in the engineering department of General Electric in Fort Wayne, then worked for United Telephone Company in Winamac.

Her career as a volunteer started early; she was a Kitchen Kadette Home Extension member holding a number of offices during her 10 years with the club. She sat on the committee that helped design and build the Community Center building in the Winamac town park.

She was an adult Girl Scout, serving as a troop leader for 10 years, and held positions in Tribal Trails Girl Scout Council as association chairman, Troop consultant, and a leader for Junior Scouts, Cadette Scouts and Senior Scout Advisor. She and her troops were the first recyclers in Pulaski County by holding glass drives; she sat on the steering committee when the idea of a recycling center was introduced in Winamac by Dr. Edward Hollenberg. She accompanied a troop of Senior Girl Scouts to Mexico in 1977. Also, as an adult Girl Scout, she led religious workshops for young scouts. She was an instructor for the Marian Medal for Cadettes, Growing With Mary for Juniors, and the Maria Nata medal for Brownies. Along with being the instructor for the Maria Nata program, she was the artist who designed the actual medal that was awarded. She was honored as a Pride of the Month recipient in 1979 by Tribal Trails Girl Scout Council in Logansport.

From 1980-82 Mrs. Powers worked for the clerk of the circuit court in Pulaski County. She was a member of the Pulaski County Democrat Central Committee, holding the office of secretary and was a precinct committeeman for Monroe IV. She was present at the inception of the WHS Alumni Organization in 1979, eventually holding offices of reporter, secretary, advisory board chairman, treasurer, and president, presiding over the 2005 Alumni Banquet.

She was an active participant at St. Peters Catholic parish where she had been a member for over 50 years. She was a member of the parish council youth committee and was also on the Lafayette Diocesan Youth Scout Committee. She was a religious education instructor for well over 20 years; was a special minister of the Eucharist, a Christian Mother, having once been the treasurer; and a charter member of the Ladies of Charity.

Other organizations that she worked with were the Pulaski County Historical Society and as a charter member of Pulaski County Arts Association. She attended the First Midwest Writer's Workshop ever held at Ball State University in Muncie in 1975. Her final years before retirement in 2001 were spent working at the Leader newspaper in Knox for Frank Allen, and The Pulaski County Journal newspaper in Winamac in the editorial departments. She was the author of "From My Little Corner of the Room" articles .

Friends may call from 3 to 8:30 p.m.,Tuesday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. A rosary service will be at 7 p.m., followed by a Christian Mothers service, and a scriptural wake service. A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday (Nov. 24), in St. Peter's Catholic Church, Winamac, with Rev. Martin Sandhage officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be given to the charity of the donor's choice.