Howard F. Powell
Feb. 20, 1883-Sept. 30, 1953
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 1, 1953, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library
Owner of Niles Hotel Killed in Southern Crash
Auto Accident Injury Fatal to Howard Powell, 70, at Columbia, S.C.
COLUMBIA, S.C. [Special]--The owner of the Powell Hotel in Niles, Mich., was fatally injured in a two car collision Wednesday while enroute to his Florida home after visiting Niles relatives.
Howard Powell, 70, now of Zephyrhills, Fla., died a short time after his car was struck by an auto driven by Maj. Robert D. Williams, of Scott Air Force Base, Ill., at the intersection of US-76 and US-601 about 19 miles east of here.
Mrs. Ruth Williams, wife of the major, was hospitalized at the Shaw Air Force Base Hospital, about 12 miles from the scene of the crash. Her condition was not known today.
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Mrs. Powell, wife of the dead man and Maj. Williams did not require hospitalization.
Patrolmen said Powell was driving south on US-601 when his car was struck by the Williams; vehicle being driven west on US-76. They said US-76 is the through route.
A report of the injuries causing Powell's death was not immediately available. The accident occurred at about 5:30 p.m.
Relatives in Niles said Powell and his wife left Niles Monday to return to their winter home in Zephyrhills, where Powell operates the Zephyr Hotel. He and his wife had spent an extended summer vacation with the Nilesites.
Surviving are his wife, Mabel; three sons, Lawrence N. of Indianapolis, Harley H. of South Bend and Ralph L. of Niles; three grandchildren; one brother, Homer Powell of Findlay, O., and one sister, Mrs. Esta Vandermark of Warsaw, Ind.
He was born in Marshall County, Ind., on Feb. 20, 1883, and came to Niles from Cando, N.D., in 1914. Powell was a member of the Niles Elks Lodge and of the Zephyrhills Lions Club,and was a director of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.
Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, Niles from Friday afternoon until service time. Funeral arrangements will be announced Friday.
Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 2, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
POWELL RITES SET
Services for Howard F. Powell will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
Powell was fatally injured in an auto accident at Columbia, S.C., while enroute to Florida after visiting Niles relatives and friends. He was owner of the Powell Hotel here and the Zephyr Hotel at Zephyrhills, Fla., where he resided most of the time the last several years.