Obituary of Lois Irene Powell

Lois Irene Powell, age 89, of Silver Lake, Ohio passed away at home on September 27, 2017. She was born to Harry and Olive Stark on August 30, 1928 in Kent, Ohio.  She attended the Kent State University School with her sisters, Agnes and Patricia graduating from high school in 1946. She was accepted to Peoples’ Hospital School of Nursing and received her RN in 1949. She married Marvin Edward Powell from Rocky Mount, VA in December 1953 and the US Army sent the newlyweds to Fort Knox, KY and later Fort Benning, GA before finally settling in Stow, Ohio.

Lois began her nursing career at Peoples’ Hospital in Akron, Ohio. During Marvin’s active military duty Lois worked at a hospital in Elizabethtown, KY and later at City Hospital in Columbus, GA where she taught nurses aids in segregated classes. Appalled by the discrepancies with teaching materials and patient care resulting from segregation in the hospital, Lois demanded and received equality in the classroom for all her students. Lois returned to Peoples’ Hospital in 1955.

Lois was devoted to her family and loved to travel with her husband, daughters and grandkids. She was an avid sports fan, devoted to her OSU Buckeyes, Cleveland Indians, Cavs and Browns. Lois was a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kent, Ohio. She was a true disciple of Christ. She maintained a lifelong friendship with the 49ers’- her nursing school classmates.

Lois will be greatly missed by her husband; Marvin Powell, daughters; Karen Baer (husband Butch) of Stow, Ohio, Kim Stewart (husband Randy) of College Station, Texas, Kathleen Powell of Stow, Ohio and granddaughters; Alex and Hannah Stewart and Madi Baer and grandson; Hayden Baer.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that donations be made to Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund.

Calling hours: Sunday, October 8th, 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Redmon Funeral Home 3633 Darrow Road, Stow, Ohio 44224.

Funeral Service: Monday October 9th at 10:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church 600 South Water Street, Kent, Ohio 44240

Burial/Interment: Immediately following service at Northlawn Memorial Gardens 4724 State Road, Peninsula, Ohio

Bereavement dinner to follow at the Karen and Butch Baer residence.