Mrs. Ralph Powell

Frances Ross Powell, 99, of Spartanburg, entered into eternal rest on Monday, September 21, 2009, after a brief illness. Mrs. Powell was born on January 10, 1910, in Savannah, TN, the eldest daughter of the late Hardin Eli and Elizabeth Meredith Ross. She was the wife of the late Ralph Carleton Powell of Spartanburg, SC, whom she married in 1956, at The Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York, NY, and then moved to Spartanburg where she was involved in numerous civic and church affairs. She was a faithful communicant of St. Francis Anglican Church where she served as Altar Guild Directress and the Directress of the Flower Guild. She was an avid supporter of the Prayer Book Society and greatly admired the traditional Book of Common Prayer. She attended Martin College in Pulaski, TN, graduated from Peabody Institute in Nashville, TN, and was a public school teacher and private piano instructor. She entered business in Chicago as a buyer for Carson, Pirie, Scott, developed and managed national marketing and distribution of a product line of customer colors for Magicolor Paints of Pittsburgh, and managed regional marketing of cosmetics for Revlon. Mrs. Powell was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Savannah, TN, and an avid gardener as long as her health permitted. Survivors include nephews and nieces, Roderick Thorne and Meredith Ross of Palo Alto, CA, Hardin Ross, III of Winston-Salem, NC, and Sybil Ross Foster of Evansville, IN; great-nephews, Bradford Thorne of Palo Alto, CA, Rick Moore of Savannah, GA (now serving in Afghanistan), and Ed Moore of Evansville, IN; cousin, John W. Ross of Savannah, TN; her loyal and dedicated caregiver, Charity Jones; two step-sons, Harry G. Powell and Edward C. Powell; a step-daughter, Patricia Gordon; and eight step-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a step-son, Carleton Powell. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 25, 2009, at St. Francis Anglican Church conducted by The Rt. Rev. Timothy B. Farmer. Immediately following the service, Mrs. Powell will be laid to rest in the St. Francis Garden of Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Spartanburg, SC, beside her beloved husband. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mrs. Ralph Carleton Powell please visit our Sympathy Store.