Perry Guy Powers (1906 - 1981)

Born 3 Jul 1906 in LaHarpe, Allen, Kansas, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Violet (Williams) Powers — married 11 Sep 1947 in Reno, Nevada, USA

Died 1 Jun 1981 at age 74 in San Jose, Santa Clara, California, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sam Powers [send private message]

Biography

Perry was born in 1906. He was the son of Colby Powers and Lillie Vanover. He passed away in 1981.

copy of hand written eulogy sent to me by Henry and Lois Cox

Perry Powers 3Jul1906 ~1Jun1981

Beloved Brothers and Sister, relatives, friends.

I am very grateful to have the honor of talking to you today about a very dear friend of mine, Perry Powers.

Perry was born of Colby Powers and Lillie Jane Vanover on the 3 July 1906 in LaHarpe, Kansas.

His family had been close to the church in the early days of the church. His grandfather James Colby Powers was involved with the secret burial of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and he also helped build the LDS Temple (in Nauvoo, I believe)

Perry graduated from Business College in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He worked on the Whitehorse Ranch (a dude ranch) where he learned to ride a horse and to rope.

As a result of these skills, he worked with Gene Autry in Madison Square Garden as a roper and as a bullwhip exhibition artist.

I have seen roping and bullwhip exhibitions, and they are very exciting events.

He worked in breaking and training horses for Gene Autry, for Bing Crosby, and for Governor Pat McKarron of Nevada.

He was offered a leading role in the life story of Will Rogers by Warner Brothers, but he chose instead to continue in defense work.

Perry served our country in World War 2 in the Marine Corps as a Sargent in China for 4 years, and as a Captains orderly aboard the Battleship Missouri.

While in China he was involved with the protection of the US interests in the Orient.

Later he served as an assistant Commandant in the Marine Corps League.

Perry met Vi in Reno, Nevada while they were both working for Sears at the time. They were married in Reno 11 Sep 1947

Both Perry and Vi were part of the welcoming committee, along with the Governor of Nevada, for the Freedom Train in Reno in 1946.

On another occasion,both Perry and Vi did research work for a book written by Dana and Ginger Lamb who were explorers in South America.

Perry worked for Lockheed for 22 years, starting in the aircraft industry in Burbank in 1952.

They came to Sunnyvale when Lockheed moved here from Burbank.

I first met Perry when I was a Union Steward at Lockheed in 1962. Perry held some positions in my local lodge at that time.

He was a very gently, soft spoken man, a man who loved his fellow man, and tried very hard to get along with everyone.

If everyone were like him, the world would be a much better place in which to live. Perry retired from Lockheed in 1974 due to poor health, and has been in delicate health ever since.

Perry and Vi joined the LDS Church in Mar 1966. Sherman Fitch baptized them, Clarence Teerlink confirmed Perry, and Carl Jones confirmed Vi. He was sustained as an Elder at the Menlo Park Stake House and ordained while Bishop Wilkenson was Bishop of Sunnyvale First Ward. He was a home teacher for several years, until his health prevented him from functioning as a home teacher any longer.

Perry and Vi were interested in genealogy work, and I had the opportunity as their home teacher to talk to them about their genealogy many times. They were involved in numerous social occasions in the Church and they spent several of their vacations in the cannery in Redwood City.

They received their endowments in Mar 1976 at the Oakland Temple. I was privileged to attend their sealing at which Brother Theo Verharren sealed them together as husband and wife for time and all eternity.

He is survived by his wife Vi, by 2 sisters, Dorris Green of Long Beach, who is here today, by Agnes in Kansas, and one brother Gene Powers in Green Belt, Maryland.

There are several family members here from Long Beach and from out of state.

Perry, we love you, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

William A Blankenbahler

Sources

• Family Records.