Karl J. Powers
...WWII Veteran, Raytheon Retiree; 89
TEWKSBURY - Karl J. Powers, age 89, the patriarch of a large well known Tewksbury family, died Monday evening, July 18, at Wingate at Belvidere, with his family at his side after a lengthy illness. He was the beloved husband for 65 years, of Ursula A. "Bubbles" (Horgan) Powers, who died last February 26th.
He was born in Cambridge, April 18, 1922, a son of the late Karl B. and Elizabeth (Logue) Powers. His family lived in Arlington before they moved to the Silver Lake section of Tewksbury when he was a teenager. He met his future bride during one of her families summertime vacations at Silver Lake.
He enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps. A disabling injury ended his military career. He worked as an Industrial Engineer for Raytheon's Missile Division in the Shawsheen and later West Andover facilities. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Karl was active in religious, civic, and fraternal organizations as a communicant of St. William's Church, a co-founder and general manager of the Orbiteer's Drum and Bugle Corps, was past Deputy Grand Knight at the Fr. Coppin's Council, Knights of Columbus, 4336 in Tewksbury, was Past Commander of the Wilmington American Legion, member of the Tewksbury D.A.V., Post 110, in Tewksbury, and the Wilmington V.F.W.
He is survived by eight children, Donna M. Powers of Tewksbury, Kathleen J. Mercer and her husband Bruce of Albuquerque, NM, Karl Joseph Powers, Jr. of Lowell, John Robert Powers and his wife Debra (Gadbois) of Reading, Edward F. Powers and his wife Donna (DeVita) of Rowley, Stephen M. Powers of Tewksbury, Patricia A. Clark and her husband Stephen of Bradford, VT, Karla J. Humphreys and her husband William of Lowell; nineteen grandchildren; four great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Paul Horgan of CA; three sisters-in-law, Dorothy Horgan of Tewksbury, Jean Horgan of TN, Barbara Fraser of Pepperell; and many nieces and nephews.
He was also brother of the late John B. Powers and Elizabeth Irwin.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated Monday, July 25, in St. William's Church, Tewksbury. Burial with Air Force Honors followed in Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to the Oblate Father's Infirmary Fund, 486 Chandler St., Tewksbury, MA 01876 will be appreciated.