Richard M. Power, 89, of Methuen, passed away peacefully on Friday April 21, 2017 surrounded by his loving family at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, MA.
Richard was born on October 6, 1927 to Martin and Eva (Keough) Power. Born and raised in Millis, MA, he graduated with the Class of 1945 from Millis High School. Shortly after graduation, Richard felt the patriotic call of duty and he served his country. As a decorated US Army WWII Veteran, he served in a military career that spanned nearly three decades retiring from the US Army Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel. After being discharged from active service in 1947, Richard understood the need for a post secondary education and graduated with the Class of 1951 from Harvard University with a Masters Degree in engineering. That same year, he married his lifelong sweetheart, Dorothy (Smith) in a simple ceremony. Richard had many devotions in his life both professional and personal. In addition to his military career in the reserves, he also worked as a sanitation engineer for the MA Department of Public Health, overseeing various projects throughout the Commonwealth. After taking an early retirement from civil service, Richard went on to employ his talents with several different engineering firms until his retirement with the firm of Whitman & Howard. He was a standing member of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers. Richard enjoyed spending his summers at his second home on Cape Cod and enjoyed fishing and boating. As a devout Catholic, he was a communicant for Saint Monica’s Parish in Methuen. Richard and his wife enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the United States and Canada. He touched many lives in many different circles and will fondly be remembered and truly missed.
Richard is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 66 years of marriage Dorothy (Smith) Power. He is also survived by his cherished sister Ann Flavin and her husband Dennis of Cape Elizabeth, ME, his sister-in-law Tina Power of Derry, NH and many loving nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by his three brothers; Kenneth, James and Edward Power and his sister Louise Matheson.
Visitation for Richard will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA. Friends and family are cordially invited to attend. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at 11:00 AM at Saint Monica's Parish, 212 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA. Interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, 130 N Lowell Street, Methuen, MA. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Richard’s name to either the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 North Ave, Haverhill, MA 01830 or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St, Framingham, MA 01701. To leave an online condolence please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is proud to serve the Power family.