Edward Farnsworth Powers, husband of the late Sheila Barboza Powers of Westerly, passed away peacefully last Friday afternoon at his home on High Street, Mystic, in which he lived for nearly all his life. He was a vibrant 88 years of age.
Mr. Powers descends from one of the oldest Black and Native American families in this part of southern New England; he is the great-grandson of Henry William Wilson who fled the plantation of Alexander B. Wilson in Charleston, S.C. after witnessing the murder of his mother by the plantation owner. Aided by the owner and captain of a Mystic-bound clipper ship, the young slave boy stowed away on board and the boat set sail saving the boy's life. When young Henry grew up, he married an Eastern Pequot Indian, Mary Murillo Sebastian, and Edward's grandmother, Cary Wilson, was the couple's first child.
The son of Ralph F. Powers and Ida Mae Royster, Edward was born Aug. 29, 1932, on the Wilson farm at Starr Street in Mystic. He attended Mystic Academy and Robert E. Fitch High School before being activated in 1950, by the newly integrated Army National Guard, seeing tours of duty in Georgia, Boston, Seattle, Japan and Korea. Often the only person of color in his several battalions, Edward took on the reins of a pioneer, challenging policies and procedures and otherwise serving as an early agent of change.
Edward took advantage of welding training and earned certification through the State Apprentice program. A ""stand-out"" in this trade, he joined Electric Boat Division (EB) in 1952, and was assigned work on the USS Nautilus at the time when its champion, the maverick Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, harnessed the power of the atom to drive this first nuclear-powered submarine. Inspired by Rickover, Edward applied his desire to think ""outside of the box"" and belief that all things are possible, to strengthen his administrative skills to affect change and provide voice and opportunity for men and women of color. He became the union steward for the powerful Boilermakers Union and later was elected officer for that union and the trades that it represented.
Impressed with Edward's vision, it was the Metal Trades Council that gave its support to Edward's efforts to establish a bi-racial committee tasked with creating paths for advancement and mentoring programs for Black members of the Boilermakers - that they eventually could assume supervisory responsibilities among the various trades. Edward was perhaps himself the best example of a mentor, rising through the ranks from welder to methods analyst to engineer to senior engineer. Earning engineering certification from the University of New Haven, he designed complex product prototypes for naval projects in Washington, D.C., Newport News and San Diego and all the while, continued looking behind him, eager to help lift the proteges of color who admired him. He retired from EB in 1992, after 40 years of service.
An athlete throughout his life, Edward played semi-professional football, engaged in semi-professional boxing, and was a member of the EB Athletic Club (EBAC). In retirement, he enjoyed landscape design, gardening and carpentry. Additionally, he was an avid fisherman, winning several tournaments of the EBAC.
He was devoted to his beloved Sheila for 25 years until her death in 1979. The couple had two daughters who survive him, Lynn D'Ann and Lisa Rene Powers both of Mystic. He is also survived by his loving, long-time companion Gloria A. Hodge of Groton; as well as a niece, Tracy McLaughlin of Charlotte, N.C.; and a nephew, Charles McLaughlin of Manchester.
With many Barboza, Royster and Keyes cousins in various parts of the country, Edward's local relatives include Joyce Wilson Wallace of Mystic and Lawrence E. Wilson III (Larry) of Providence and their respective children: U.S. Army Capt. Brett Wallace, Shannon Wallace, Jillian Wilson Reynolds and Lawrence Wilson IV. Edward was also a member of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation.
""We will miss our dad, cousin and mentor especially now as the horror of bias and injustice - particularly toward our Black and Brown young men and women - continues relentlessly,"" notes Larry. ""Eddie's vision was one of calm, dignity and strength working together to affect change for our people."" In addition to his parents and his wife, Edward was preceded in death by his brother Ralph F. Powers in 1967.
Visiting hour will be held at 10 a.m. with funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. April 27, at Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street in Mystic. Interment will immediately follow at Elm Grove Cemetery, Route 27, Stonington..
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