Phillip Powers

Phillip Laurence Powers, 81, passed away on June 16, 2021 at his home in Akron, Ohio. He enjoyed taking daily walks with his devoted wife around the neighborhood and will be missed hiking the trails and habitats at Bath Nature Preserve. An avid golfer, wine enthusiast, and collector of early American furniture, he loved exploring barns for antique treasures in Amish country. He was occasionally known to cannonball fully-clothed into the pool after 18 holes at Fairlawn Country Club, and was an early adopter of eco-friendly gift wrap using brown paper bags with hand-drawn bows. Phil was a great admirer of classic cars, especially the 1957 Chevy. Always fun-loving, sometimes wisecracking, he made people laugh and believed in celebrating joy every day.
Born on March 6, 1940 in Anderson, South Carolina, Phil grew up in Commerce, Georgia, a small town with a feel of yesteryear and a railroad track running through the middle. One time he and a pal deflated the tires of his Chevy and drove 20 miles on that railroad track to Athens, casually waving to awe struck bystanders all the while. He moved to New York City after graduating from the University of Georgia, then transferred to Boston where he met Nancy Gaylord. During their courtship, she wanted to share her love of snow and took this southern boy to ski in Vermont. Needless to say, it was the first and last time Phil went downhill skiing.
Phil Powers is preceded in death by his parents Roscoe and Marguerite Powers. He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Nancy Gaylord, children: Nicholas (Kat), Spencer, and Tanya (Jim), and grandchildren: August, Claudia, Celia, and Zachary. As well as his sister Anna Keith (Bob) Whitaker, sister in-law Sue Newbury and several nieces and nephews. His smile and good-natured disposition will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Phil will be honored with a private family service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Crossroads Hospice at https:// crhcf.org/donate or mailed to Bath Nature Preserve, Bath Township, Attn: BNP Park Donation, P.O. Box 1188, Bath, OH, 44210-1188.