2450...)()()()()()RALPH MONROE “MONTY” POWERS JR
November 16, 1923 – July 9, 2018
Personal Life:
Ralph “Monty” Powers Jr was born at home in Jonesville, Michigan on November 16, 1923 – and passed on July 9, 2018 just shy of his 95th birthday. Monty graduated from Jonesville High School and matriculated to Albion College, where at 19 years old Monty volunteered for duty in the United States Army Air Corps. Monty felt this was his duty. After the war Monty returned to Jonesville and married Eleanor “Bean” Powers. They celebrated 42 years of marriage and had three children, Ruth, Mary and Paul. Monty joined the family business, Powers Clothing. Monty became very active in the community and listed below are the organizations to which he belonged.
Military Life:
After Volunteering for the United States Army Air Corps, Monty graduated fighter pilot training. He departed the United States and left for Africa. Monty departed for Italy on his 21st where he flew P38s with the 15th Air Force. “By April of 1945, Mussolini was dead and the Italians had surrendered to the Allies. Monty and his fellow fighter pilots spent six hour shifts alone in their cockpit, traveling at 32,000 feet where the (outside) temperature dropped as low as 52 degrees below zero. With their help, the German army was pushed north and eventually defeated.” *
Awards and Decorations:
Pilot Wings
Community and Service Organizations:
Veteran of the Year
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 247 Scoutmaster 15 years
Jamboree Scoutmaster
Philmont Leader
Silver Beaver Woods Badge
American Red Cross Donor 115 pints
Fireman 50 years
Presbyterian Church Member
Exchange Club Golden Deeds
· Hillsdale Historical Society JoAnn P. Miller