Edgar Niles Powell, age 91, of Moultonborough, New Hampshire passed peacefully at home on May 19, 2017 of congestive heart failure. He was surrounded by his two daughters and son-in law.
Edgar was mainly known as “Ed” or “Apple Ed.” He was born on September 23, 1925 in Burlington, Vermont to Niles Clark Powell and Pauline Twitchell. He was the oldest of two children.
He married Eileen Joan Marchand in Burlington, Vermont on August 3, 1946. They had three children: Linda, Kathy, and Michael.
Ed Powell served in the military from April 10, 1943 until his retirement from the United States Air Force on 31 October 1971 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Flying was his passion. Over the course of his career, he flew 31 different aircraft.
Lt Powell flew 95 combat missions in the F-86 Super Saber Jet with the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing in South Korea. His service in Korea was from March 15, 1952 to December 17, 1952.
He is credited with damaging a MIG-15 on September 9, 1952. It was Lieutenant Ed Powell’s fourth claim against the Russian-built jet fighters during the Korean Conflict. He is credited with sharing a previous destruction of one MIG and with damaging two others. He made his latest claim on a day when he and other Fifth Air Force pilots shot down six MIGs and damaged nine others.
For his service during this conflict, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Korean War Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal-Korea, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. In 2016, he was recognized with the Ambassador for Peace medal by a grateful South Korean government for his service.
Lt Col Powell served in the Reserves, Air National Guard and United States Air Force. During his 29 years of active duty service, he was awarded 17 medals and ribbons. In addition to those listed above, he received the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Reserve Forces Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Brazilian Air Force Santos Dumont Brazilian Meritorious Service Medal.
Apple Ed was energetic and active throughout his life even in his retirement. His passions during retirement included gardening, his farm stand and of course fishing and friendships throughout his life.
Ed is survived by three loving children and their spouses, Linda (Edmond) Boenisch of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Kathleen Knight of Moultonborough, New Hampshire; and Michael (Elizabeth, “Dodie) of Victoria, Texas. He has four grandchildren--Laura Zubrod, Lisa Hutchinson, Michael Powell and Matthew Powell and five great-grandchildren—Jacob Zubrod, Madeline Zubrod, Nicholas Zubrod, Benjamin Hutchinson, Kate Hutchinson, and one great, step-grandchild, Ryan Hutchinson.
Ed is also survived by his former wife, Eileen Powell, and his sister, Betty Mongeon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Niles and Pauline Powell.
There will be no funeral services. Cremation has taken place. There will be a memorial service and internment July 20, 2017 at 2:00pm at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Hwy, Boscawen, New Hampshire. There will also be a celebration of life reception in Moultonborough at the Public Safety Building from 4:00pm – 6:00pm after the funeral.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Air Force Enlisted Village, 92 Sunset Lane, Shalimar, FL 32579 or Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Association, 186 Waukewan Street, Meredith NH 03253.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.