Aug. 21, 1924 - Jan. 27, 2012
TRENTON, Nebraska -- Dorothy Irene (Godwin) Powers died Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, at the age of 87 at El Dorado Manor in Trenton,Nebraska. She was born Aug. 21, 1924 ,in Almena, Kansas. She was the daughter of the late Melvin and Ruth (Felt) Godwin. She graduated from McCook High School in 1942.
On Aug. 3, 1944, Dorothy married Lester C. Powers of Trenton in Fort Dix, New Jersey. After World War II, Lester and Dorothy lived in Trenton all their married life.
Dorothy worked as the city clerk for the Village of Trenton. She remained at this position until Lester and Dorothy purchased the Trenton Register in 1964. Before selling the paper in 1978, they changed the name to the Hitchcock County News. She was also a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club, Trenton Recreation Association and St. James Altar Society in Trenton.
Dorothy served as Executive Director of the Trenton Housing Authority from 1975 to 1978. She was a member of the Trenton Village Board, the El Dorado Manor Nursing Home and Cemetery Board for the Trenton District. She was Associate County Judge of Hitchcock County and retired in April 1990. She had been a resident of El Dorado Manor in recent years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester, on Oct. 26, 2001, daughter-in-law, Peggy (Davis) Powers in 1992, older sisters, Alice at birth, Lilly at age 9, youngest sister, June Dondlinger of Lincoln in 2010 and infant great-grandson, Braxton Gullickson, in 2011
Dorothy is survived by her sons, Charles and wife, Patricia of McCook, Ed and wife, Beverly of rural Culbertson, daughters, Carol and husband, Dan Barraza of Tucson, Arizona, and Janet Powers, also of Tucson, Joyce and husband Doug Tunink of Randolph, Nebraska, She is also survived by nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, one sister, Velda Cappel of Brookings, South Dakota, and many nieces and nephews and friends.
Rosary is today, 7 p.m,. at St. James Catholic Church in Trenton and Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m.,Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at St. James Catholic Church in Trenton with Father Val Bartek officiating. Interment will be in the St. James Cemetery at Trenton. Visitation will be at Herrmann Funeral Home in Trenton on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.,m. until time of rosary.
Herrmann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.