VINTON:  W. R. "Skeet" Powers, 93, died Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at Windsor Manor in Vinton following an extended illness.
     Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, March 27, 2009 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton with Rev. Kären Larson officiating.  Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton.  Friends may call at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. 6th St. in Vinton from 4 to 7 PM on Thursday.  A memorial fund has been established for Wesley United Methodist Church.
      The son of Charles and Mildred (Chamberlain) Powers, Wilbur R. Powers was born on October 10, 1915 at Tipton.  Known by all as "Skeet" he married his first cousin, V. Evelyn "Evy" Powers.  They made their home in Vinton where Evy served as Secretary to several Superintendents at the Iowa Braille School and Skeet was a House Parent.  Living in a dorm at the facility with twelve to thirty boys each year, the couple became "Mom and Dad" to about two hundred youngsters during their thirty-three years at the Braille School.  In their eighties, Skeet and Evy once again shared their love of parenthood and adopted a young woman and her four children from Macedonia
        Skeet loved music and had written several songs that were incorporated into a community play he wrote and directed several years ago.  He also served as director of a Sweet Adelines Chorus.  Skeet and Evy found time to enjoy life and were devoted to each other.  They shared a love of flying and bowling.         
         He is survived by his brother-in-law, Clair Powers of Iowa City; his sister-in-law, Wilma Gower of Hattiesburg, MS; his adopted daughter, Hane Powers; four grandchildren, Adelina, twins, Ariana and Arben, and Albjona Balazhi.
         In addition to his parents and his wife, Evy who died on January 25, 2004, he was preceded in death by his sister, Dielda Powers.
         Skeet never met a stranger and will be fondly remembered for his musical talents, his kind and gentle nature and his wonderful sense of humor.