Viola Powers

Viola Powers, the third of seven children, was born to Pat & Ruth Miller of Holmes Flat, California. In 1937 she graduated from Fortuna High School and in 1945 graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from La Sierra College and earned a three year scholarship toward the RN Nursing program at Paradise Valley Hospital in National City, California and completed the program in 1948. On July 3, 1946 Vi married Charles Russell Powers, a World War II veteran with whom she shared the next 63 years.

From 1948 to 2009 working as a registered nurse, Vi had been able to help others during her activities of hospital floor supervisor, convalescent-home supervisor, charge nurse mentoring ear, nose, throat residents at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in California, Josephine County Home Health, and at age 70, Vi began her years of dedication at Lovejoy Hospice (the heart of caring) in Grants Pass, Oregon. Viola became involved with pain control by getting up in the middle of the night and driving to far away country homes through rain, fog, and snow in order to relieve the suffering of a patient.

A true Florence Nightingale, Viola’s winning smile of confidence, encouraging words, counseling, bereavement skills, and optimistic, positive attitude will long be remembered.

Viola is survived by brother, Jerry Miller and sister, Barbara Zumwalt of Ferndale, California and brother, George Miller of Fortuna, California; son, Charles Wm. Powers of Gaston, Oregon; daughter, Judy Whitlock of Keno, Oregon; and three grandsons.

In honor of Viola, donations can be made to Better Life Television or Love Joy Hospice.

A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, September 14, 2014 at the Grants Pass Seventh-day Adventist Church. Viola chose Hull & Hull and their services due to the quality, sincerity, and personal time spent with family members of her terminally ill hospice patients.