Obituaries
Joshua C. Powers
Joshua Charles Powers, beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew and grandson, went Home to be with the Lord on Friday, January 23rd in Baghdad, Iraq at the age of 27. Josh was working a security detail when the car he was riding in was struck head on. Both Josh and an Iraqi colleague were killed.
Josh served with the 10th Mountain Division in the U.S. Army for four years. His military service included tours in Korea and Afghanistan. Josh was born in Lancaster and moved to the South of France at the age of six with his parents and sisters, Elizabeth and Michelle, as missionaries with BCM International. He returned to Lancaster with his sisters for his high school years attending Living Word Academy and Conestoga Valley High School. After school, to the delight of his grandfather, LTC Marvin Powers, he joined the U.S. Army Infantry. Following his Honorable Discharge, he began working as a private security contractor in Iraq. During his vacation times, he traveled around the world visiting thirty one countries, leaving friends wherever he traveled. Josh attended Webster University in Thailand and was looking forward to returning in the fall. Josh was fluent in French, Spanish, English and was learning Arabic at the time of his Homegoing. What was appreciated by all were his qualities of sensitivity, sense of humor, courage, strength, love and generosity. He gave much of his income to help supportthe ministry of his parents in France as well as others in need. His special love was for his sisters and his nieces, Joyce, Chloe, Joy and Cassie.
Joshua is survived by his parents, Chuck and Cathy Powers of Toulouse, France and sisters, Elizabeth Anneville and her husband Herve, also from Toulouse and Michelle Hildebrand and her husband Ben from Lancaster, PA., as well as his nieces, Joyce and Chloe Anneville and Joy and Cassie Hildebrand. He is also survived by his maternal grandmother, Grace Williams, and paternal grandmother, Ruth Powers. Josh had a large extended family who will greatly miss him.
Missing him as well will be his “band of brothers”, his Army buddies and colleagues.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, January 29th at Hempfield Brethren in Christ Church, 2600 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster. Friends will be received at 4 P.M. with the service to follow at 5 P.M. There will be a private military burial service at Ft. Indiantown Gap Friday at 1:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in memory of Joshua be sent to the Joshua Powers Memorial Fund c/o Fulton Bank, 5998 Main Street, E. Petersburg, PA 17520. Joshua had a great burden for the people of northern France who have never heard the Gospel and his desire was to work with his parents to establish a church in Desvres, France.
Arrangements by Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Chapel, Lititz, PA 560-5100.
To send an online condolence, please visit www.snyderfuneralhome.com.
1 Thessalonians 4:13,14 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who have fallen asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page
Dear Ruth and Family,
Heartfelt condolences at this time of grief. May the Lord comfort and bless you. You are in my prayers.
With sympathy,
Ulli Baumann
Dear Chuck and Cathy, Elizabeth and Michelle,
I wrote a memorial for Josh the day I heard and wanted you to hear some of my thoughts and feelings about Josh. I also wish I could be there and give you a hug and cry with you, but God has me here, and I know you will have many there to hold you. Just be assured that we love you and feel for you.
(excerpts from myspace)
I didn’t know him that well, but he hung out with my brother at the BCM conferences and was a lot of fun. We spoke French and he said my French was good- he’d know, he grew up in France- it was a compliment coming from him. I remember him being part of a spontaneous young adults’ night out to a Cajun restaurant one chilled-out evening, before he went back to Iraq. Now he is a citizen of heaven, because of grace. We will miss him so much, and though God is our strength, there is no shame in crying. He understands, though we sometimes don’t.
God bless you and comfort you- je vous aime et je sais que Dieu vous aime profondement.
Melody (nee Dukes) and Jordan (A1C) Young
We were sadden to hear of your loss. May the Lord get you thru this time of grief with the assurance that you will be reunited in heaven.
Dear Chuck, Kathy and family,
We want to be amongst the many to be close to you in Spirit in these difficult days. We were not privileged to know Josh but from what we have read over the past week, we understand the emptiness that he has left behind in so many areas. We remember at the last BCM Conf in Poland how we were encouraged to pray for you and Josh as he was at that time serving in Afghanistan. You know, it made the war so much more real to us and in these last days after the news of Josh’s homegoing, we have been touched again know someone who has lost some one in this terrible time of world conflict. We don’t have any wise words to say but we want you to that we will be praying for you daily and that the God of hope and comfort will touch you with His strength.
In Cristo,
Michael & Lorna Ralston
BCM ITALY
Josh and I met briefly while traveling in Tibet. He was a honorable and great man. It is rare to meet people who embrace life as Josh did. My prayers are with your family. If there is anything I can do, do not hesitate to contact me. myfeethurt@gmail.com or 917-331-3639. Very Respectfully, Eddie.
Ben and Michelle,
Sorry to hear about the passing of your brother. We miss you. Contact us via e-mail. terriwilliams@comcast.net Hope you and your girls are well.
