Powers

Richard Joseph “Dick” Powers, 90, of Butler, died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at the Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center.

Born Oct. 8, 1934, in Pittsburgh, he was a son of Patrick Joseph Powers and Catherine McHugh Powers. He was one of nine children, and all of his siblings, Mary, Ed, Jim, Margaret “Mickey,” Bob, Betsy, Helen and David “Sam,” preceded him in death.

The best decision of his life, to marry Lois Jean Odrey, came to fruition on Nov. 19, 1954. They celebrated 50 years of marriage shortly before Lois succumbed to malignant pheochromocytoma on Feb. 21, 2005.

Dick attended Butler High School and graduated in 1953. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Ohio, Colorado and Greenland. Following his military service, of which he was very proud and supportive of all others who served this country, he sold insurance before getting hired at Armco, where he worked for more than 30 years.

In his late 30s, Dick decided he wanted to become a part-time farmer. From a farm in Mount Chestnut owned by Chalmers Pflugh, he purchased 5 acres and then 2½ more and planted hundreds of blueberry bushes. With a lot of work, the plants grew but they never thrived. For 20 years, he had the soil analyzed annually. Finally, he got a response that he should grow something else. The whole experience was not all for naught, as it really taught his sons the value of hard work!

Dick was very proud of his Irish heritage. To that end, he and Lois took several trips to Ireland and really enjoyed meeting the people and experiencing everything the country has to offer. Upon returning from one of their earlier excursions, they learned an expensive baggage handling lesson when they opened their suitcases to find their Waterford crystal purchases in broken shards. They got over that experience and continued to go back.

Dick was a member of All Saints Parish, St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, where he was active in church functions and activities.

He volunteered with Meals on Wheels. He was a member of American Legion Post 778 and was involved with the local Democratic Party. He formerly served on the board of directors of Butler Basketball Boosters and was a former member of the Butler Quarterback Club.

Following the death of his beloved Lois, Dick sang in the St. Paul church choir, met his friends at Panera and Eat’n Park, spent time with his family, and enjoyed shorter trips to places like Gettysburg, though he did make one more trip to Ireland with three of his sons.

He is survived by sons, Tom (Sheila), Mike (Anna Marie) and Terry (Amy) of Butler, Dennis (Carol) of Abingdon, Md., and Bob (MaryBeth) of Alexandria, Va.; his grandchildren, Bronya, Jacynda (Jair), Jocelyn (Doug), Bridgette (Pete), Nicholas, Stephen, Jacob, A.J. and Sean; and great-grandchildren, Bailey, Jaelyn, Lylie and Jair Jr.; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to Lois and his siblings, Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his infant daughter, Barbara; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

POWERS — Family and friends of Richard Joseph “Dick” Powers, who died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at All Saints Parish, St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 127 Franklin St., Butler, with the Rev. Kevin C. Fazio officiating.

Military honors will be accorded at the church by American Legion Post 778, VFW Post 249 and VFW Post 499.

Entombment will take place in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions in Dick’s name would be welcomed by the Butler Chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 146 N. Monroe St., Butler, PA 16001.

For more information, visit www.martinfh.net.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.