Roderick Wharton Powers

RODERICK (ROD) WHARTON POWERS JULY 28, 1924 - JULY 30, 2005 Roderick (Rod) Wharton Powers passed away at home on July 30, 2005, after a valiant and courageous three-year fight with cancer.

Rod was born July 28, 1924 in Delta, Iowa to Dr. S.C.E Powers and Edythe Wharton Powers.

Rod is survived by his wife of 57 years, Faye of Sun City West, Arizona; his daughter, Vicki Powers-Gustafson and son-in-law Roger of Scottsdale, Arizona; sister, Carole Powers of Hot Springs, Arkansas; sister-in-law, Bernice Wilson of El Dorado, Arkansas; nephews and Vicki's step-family.

At the age of seven, his family moved to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where his father, Dr. S.C.E. Powers, was appointed Dean of Henderson State Teachers College. Rod graduated from Arkadelphia High School at fifteen and enrolled at Henderson State Teachers College. Like so many of his generation WWII interrupted his college days. Rod served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 as a B-24 pilot. After the war he returned to Henderson where he met his future wife, Faye Newsom, daughter of Asa and Brownie Newsom of El Dorado. They married September 16, 1948.

Rod graduated from Henderson in 1948 with a degree in political science followed by a Masters in Journalism at the University of Iowa. His first newspaper job was at the Daily Siftings Herald in Arkadelphia. In 1952 he joined the Arkansas Democrat in Little Rock and in 1955 was named Assistant City Editor after serving two years as State Editor. In 1966 he was inducted into Sigma Delta Chi professional journalism fraternity and that same year Rod was named City Editor of the Arkansas Democrat. Rod and Faye moved to California in 1970 where Rod joined the McClatchy Newspapers and was assigned to The Modesto Bee working there until his retirement in 1989.

After retirement Rod continued to enjoy his interests in aviation, Alfa Romeos, boating, golf, travel, and most importantly his love of all things JAZZ. He especially enjoyed boating and fishing on the Sacramento Delta, spending weekends on his boat at the Caliente Isle Yacht Club.

In 1996 he and Faye moved to Sun City West, Arizona, a community near Luke Air Force Base where Rod had finished some of his flight training. Rod loved to sit on his patio and watch the F-16s that operate from Luke fly over his home. He would reminisce and comment, that the sound of the F-16s are much different than the drone of my WWII AT-6 training aircraft, but to me the sound of freedom will never change.

For all us who have known and loved Rod, he was an incredibly amazing husband, father, and friend. He was a man of integrity, honesty, and honor.

May he eternally rest in peace with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Arrangements in Sun City West are entrusted to Camino Del Sol Funeral Chapel where a service will be held for his Arizona family and friends. Rod will return home to Arkansas and his memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 13, 2005, at the First United Methodist Church of El Dorado.

Interment will be at a later date at Rhodes Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Lawson, Arkansas, the family church founded in 1850 by relative George Rhodes.

Arrangements in El Dorado are entrusted to Young's Funeral Home. The family expresses their gratitude for the at-home care given to Rod by the staff of Hospice of the Valley. They are truly angels of caring, comfort, and peace.

Donations in Rod's memory may be sent to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85014 or to Rhodes Chapel United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 134, Lawson, Arkansas, 71750.

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