Carol Bernice (Calkins) Powell

CAROL BERNICE (CALKINS) POWELL

Cedar Rapids

Carol Bernice (Calkins) Powell, 106, crossed the bar on Good Friday, April 2, 2021, at The Keystones of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 15, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, 4200 First Ave., NE. There will be a brief visitation at 10 a.m. with funeral services following at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 16, at Grace Baptist Church 1461 East Post Rd., Marion, Iowa.

Following the continued guidance from health officials, physical distancing must be practiced, which requires a limited number of people allowed into the visitation at one time. The use of face masks or shields is required.

Carol was the middle child of Chester H. Jr. and Lillie (Sherwood) Calkins. They preceded her in death, as well as her spouse and four siblings, Blanche, Bernard, Doris and Maxine. Carol was born Nov. 28, 1914, on a Kansas farm. Her Papa (father) died in 1932, during the Great Depression, which caused her to become independent and seek various jobs. She graduated from Wichita East High School and attended Wichita Business College to better her opportunities. Carol worked at the newly formed Social Security Administration, before her call to duty. She proudly served two and a half years in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. Later, taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, she learned to fly a Piper Cub plane. Carol met Robert T. Powell on a blind date and married in Oklahoma City on Oct. 8, 1949. With ten dollars in Bob's pocket and a promise, they moved to Cedar Rapids to partner in a construction business.

Carol served as Women's Presbyterial president; president of the Linn County Genealogical Society; regent, treasurer and constitution chairwoman of Mayflower Chapter DAR; and vice president of Waves National Unit 53. She was a lifelong member of Hacker's Creek (W. VA) Pioneer Descendants and the Kansas Society of Mayflower Descendants.

The highlight of 2012 was going to Washington, D.C. on an Honor Flight. In the Fall of 2020, she was interviewed by Zoom about her life on the USCG. The documentary will be housed in the Library of Congress. Before computer searches, tracing your roots was much more difficult. Carol discovered Mayflower ancestors William and Susanna White and their son, Resolved (on her dad's side.)

Carol's competitive nature was evident when she played Bingo and Scrabble. She loved fishing, baseball, puzzles, knitting, playing piano, reading and travel. Most of all, she enjoyed following her grandchildren/great-grandchildren's sports and activities. Keeping connected with extended family and friends was very important to her, also. Carol was affectionately known as Grandma Candy Cane.

Surviving is her beloved family including daughter, Nancy C. (John) Sadler; grandson, Nathan (Jocelyn) Sadler and their children, Brady, Owen, Mabry and Ian; grandson, Adam (Sue Ann) Sadler and their children, Olivia, Hannah, Hayden and Jonathan; and granddaughter, Aubrey C. (Rob) Holsinger and their son, Boston.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Genealogical Society of Linn County, Iowa or Trees Forever "Releaf Initiative."

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.