Mildred Elizabeth (Flynn) Powell

Mildred (Flynn) Powell passed away peacefully October 6, 2017. She was born to Walter and Katherine (Kirby) Flynn in Slater, Missouri. She attended local schools and the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri, where she obtained a B.S. in Public Administration. It was also at the University that she met a fellow student Vivian Powell, who was to become her future husband. She worked for two years as a statistician for the regional office of the Way Manpower Commission in Kansas City, Missouri.
On October 21, 1944, she married Lt. Vivian F. Powell in Slater. They lived for one month in Springfield, Missouri before moving to Lawton, Oklahoma, where Lt. Powell was stationed at Ft. Sill Field Artillery School. After the end of WW II and Vivian's discharge from the service, they moved to Gibson City, Illinois, where Vivian was employed. In 1952 they were transferred to Decatur, Indiana and later (in 1962) to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where they lived for 35 years.Except for her volunteer work as a Staff Assistant for the Comanche County chapter of the American Red Cross and one year of teaching in the parochial school in Decatur, Indiana, Mildred was a stay-at-home mother. Through the years she volunteered for work in the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, 4-H, Head Start, her neighborhood association, her parishes and her children' parochial schools. Mildred also enjoyed playing bridge, gardening and canning, working crossword puzzles, reading, and family gatherings.Mildred is survived by five children: Katherine Runkle of New Haven, Indiana, Walter (Kathy) Powell of Bloomington, Illinois, John (Sharon) Powell of Granger, Indiana, Martha Powell of Louisville, Colorado, and Thomas (Lauren) Powell of Manhattan Beach, California; 13 grandchildren and 14 great children.Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, sister and three brothers, husband Vivian, and daughter Patricia.Rosary will be prayed at 5 PM Monday, October 9, followed by visitation until 7 PM, at McGann Hay, University Chapel, 2313 E. Edison Rd., South Bend. Funeral Mass will be held 10 AM Tuesday, October 10 at St. Anthony De Padua Catholic Church, South Bend, preceded by visitation 9-10 AM at the church. Graveside service will be held 2 PM at Fort Wayne Catholic Cemetery, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.Memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, or to Center for Hospice Care, South BendTo send condolences to the family please visit: www.McGannHay.com.