HOULTON – Josiah W. Powell, 59, died early Wednesday morning, March 23, 2005, at Madigan Estates Nursing Facility. He was born May 14, 1946, in Florence, Ala., the son of Flora Ivey Powell and the late Josiah W. Powell. Josiah moved to Houlton with his family in 1959. He attended Ricker Classical Institute and graduated valedictorian with the Class of 1963. He attended Dartmouth College before moving to California in 1965. Some of Josiah’s happiest childhood memories are of the times he spent on his grandfather Byron Ivey’s farm in Linneus. Josiah received a degree in chemistry from the University of California in Berkeley and worked for the Federal Government as a chemist in the Food and Drug Administration before retiring on disability. Josiah returned to Houlton in February 2003 and lived in an apartment until moving to Madigan Health Care Facility in August of 2004. For many years in California, Josiah was an ardent bicyclist. One of his favorite pastimes was coasting on his bike down Telegraph Avenue from Oakland to the UC campus in Berkeley. In the 70s, he joined a bike-centennial group to bike across country from Oregon to Alabama where he visited his father’s family in Birmingham. In addition to his interest in all things scientific, Josiah was a keen student of astrology and did astrological charts for many family members and friends, many of these charts surprisingly accurate on character analysis. For the 30 years he lived in Berkeley, Josiah’s apartment was always open to any friend or family member who needed help or a place to sleep. He was famous for feeding guests with a huge homemade apple pie. Brothers, Daniel and Byron; sisters, Jean and Molly; cousin, Benjamin Slaughter, stayed with him temporarily when going to school or seeking work on the West Coast. Josiah’s helping hand extended not only to family members but to friends from all areas of the country. Josiah is survived by his mother, Flora Ivey Powell of Houlton; brothers, Byron and Daniel of Portland; sisters, Jean Powell of Fall River, Mass. and Molly Powell of New York City; aunts, Betty Brooks of Brooks of Virginia Beach, Va. and Jean Garcelon of Linneus; aunts and uncles, Pat and Lloyd Chase of Houlton, Tom and Carol Power of Falmouth; aunt Molly Powell Slaughter of Birmingham, Ala.; many first cousins in the north and south. A memorial service will be announced in the spring. Cremation is being handled by Bowers Funeral Home. Friends may make gifts in Josiah’s memory to the Cary Library or to a charity of their choice, care of Bowers Funeral Home, 10 Water St., Houlton 04730.
JOSIAH W. POWELL
