WEST LEBANON, NH — Charles H. Powers, 86, a resident of Quail Hollow in West Lebanon, NH, and formerly of Cuba, NY, died January 18, 2021 at Woodlawn Nursing Home in Newport, NH.
He was born January 28, 1934 in Pomfret, NY the son of the late Casimir Pinkowski Powers and Cecelia (Pieniaszek) Powers. In 1958 in Buffalo, NY he married Rose Marie Wesolowski who died in 1989. On July10, 2004 he married Marlis Coss Aaron in Olean, NY.
Mr. Powers graduated from Kensington High School and Buffalo State Teacher’s College. He attended the University of Buffalo and then was accepted for Aviation Cadet Training, graduating with the Class of ‘56. He became a jet fighter pilot with the Niagara Falls Air National Guard and was an Industrial Arts teacher until he was called to active duty for the Cuban Missile Crisis by the US Air Force. He remained in the Air Force as a fighter pilot and intelligence officer, retiring as a Major in 1970. His service duties included four years at RAF Bentwaters in England and a tour in Vietnam. He earned the Vietnam Service Medal and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. Following his retirement, he worked for 24 years as a customs inspector for the US Customs Service at the Buffalo, NY Peace Bridge, retiring in 1994.
Following the death of his first wife, he moved to Cuba, NY to make his permanent home on the 200 acres he had acquired in 1970. He was an avid outdoorsman and conservationist and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and observing and photographing wildlife. He was a member of the Bucktail Chapter of the Military Officers Association, the Retired Officers Association, the Eagles Club, AARP and a life member of the American Legion, the VFW and the Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include his wife, Marlis Powers, a son, Mark Powers of Perrysburgh, OH, five step-children, Ronald Aaron, Denise Abraham, Michele Eade, Judy Slack, and Jill Polli, six grandchildren, and 10 step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Rose Marie Powers, his daughter, Laura Frankland, a sister, Theresa Ozark, and brothers, Frank and Norman Powers.
Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family with burial at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Cheektowaga, NY. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are by Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home in Barre, VT.