Benjamin L. Powers

WASHINGTON?Benjamin L. Powers, 71, of Washington, passed away at 8:18 p.m., Thursday, April 10, 2014 at Washington Christian Village. Ben was born on July 9, 1942 in Peoria to Benjamin H. and Leona (Ross) Powers. He married Juanita Meyer in Washington on February 12, 1967. Juanita survives. Also surviving are two sons, Brad Powers and Brian Powers, both of Washington; four sisters, Carol Eichelkraut and Janet Taylor, both of Washington, Joan (John) Barwick of Pekin and Nancy (Jim) Rollings of Ottawa and three loving grandchildren, Jack, Hope and Owen that he adored. Ben was also preceded in death by one brother, George. After high school, Ben spent four years in the U.S. Navy during the Cuban Crisis. Following the Navy discharge, Ben spent another 14 years serving in the National Guard or Reserve. Ben worked for Caterpillar for 38 years prior to his retirement, at that time he worked in the heating and air conditioning maintenance area in East Peoria. During high school he competed in the golden gloves boxing competition. In later years he loved to fish, go camping, take drives, watch the trains and enjoy the beauty of nature. But his most special times were those with family and especially those grandchildren that he loved. Ben was a baptized Christian, who committed himself to Christ as an adult at Northwoods Church in Peoria. A service to celebrate Ben?s life will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Mason-White Funeral Home in Washington with burial following at Hillcrest Memory Gardens, south of Washington. Visitation will be from noon until 2 at the funeral home. Military rites will be accorded at the cemetery by the U.S. Navy and Tazewell Military Rites Team. Memorials for Ben may be directed to the Arthritis Foundation. Online condolences may be made to masonfuneralhomes.com