Robert Joseph "Bob" Powers

Robert Joseph Powers "Bob" Powers was born in St Louis, Mo on Oct. 15, 1927 and passed away April 30, 2011. He was the fourth son of James & Honora Powers, both of Irish immigrants. During his teenage years, Bob worked on an ice truck, delivering blocks of ice to residences and businesses, especially movie theatres who used the ice with fans and called it "air conditioning". He was very athletic, as were his older brothers, and baseball was his favorite sport. When he was 16 he travelled to Florida to play in the minor leagues. He always said his brother Tom was the best ballplayer in the family, but Tom always argued the opposite. Tires of the travel involved, Bob signed up for the Marine Corp in 1945, and signed on for the duration of the war. As it turned out, that came quickly and he ended up serving a year and a half. He met his first wife Rita Milan, and they were married in 1950, and over the years had seven sons. Afterwards, Bob joined the St Louis Police force with his childhood friend Dave Sinclair. In 1958 Dave persuaded Bob to join him in the car business, and the two of them began lifelong careers selling Fords. Bob worked at Dave's Ford dealership in St Louis until 1975 when he went to work for another friend and ex St Louis Policeman Kevin Fitzgerald at his Ford dealership in Gig Harbor, Wa. He will be remembered by many of his loyal customers as always being there to help out if they had any car trouble. He was never too busy to help anyone, and his success was reflected by the many repeat and customers and referrals he had. Bob is survived by his wife Melba and seven sons, Timothy, Robert, Mark, Matthew, Terry, Kevin, and Brian, 13 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his 3 brothers Eugene, Francis, and Thomas.