POWERS

Published 5:49 pm Tuesday, July 2, 2013

James R. Powers, 64, died Monday, July 1, 2013.
He was the beloved husband of Patricia Roberson Powers, stepfather of Jason Rupe (Charmaine), Rebecca Penton (O’Dell) and Kurt Pinell (Mindy), grandfather of Darren, Jessie, Alexis, Jasmine, Jacqueline and Michael, son of the late Ralph and Ruth Powers, stepson of the late Charlotte Fitzwater, brother of David Powers (Karen) and Gary Powers (Cheryl) and brother-in-law and friend of Sheldon Roberson (Crystal) and Cheryle Seawitch.
He served 21 years of dedicated service in the U.S. Air Force. He spent three tours of duty in Thailand during the Vietnam Conflict in rescue and recovery missions as a crew chief on the Ch-53 helicopter. He then retrained and flew numerous missions in the AWACS aircraft. He accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours. He participated in the Sanh Tei Raid in Vietnam rescuing our soldiers.
He was a native of Rising Sun, Md., and a resident of LaPlace.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend services. Visitation will be held at Millet-Guidry Funeral Home, 2806 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace, on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by religious services in the funeral home chapel at 11 a.m. Burial will be private at a later date.