John William Powers

With very heavy hearts, the Powers family would like to announce the passing of the patriarch of the family, John William Powers.

John was born December 10, 1934, in Grand Rapids, Michigan and passed away peacefully in his home in Ridgecrest on December 30, 2023, due to health complications.

He began his career in the United States Navy serving aboard ships specializing in Logistics from August 15, 1952, through March 15, 1974. During his 20+ year career, he was stationed in Japan where he met his wife Sakiko Powers. After they married, they moved to Honolulu, Hawaii where they gave birth to their first child, Toni Powers-Kendrick. This is also where he retired out of the Navy to move onto his new career with as a Field Representative with the Social Security Administration then later transferred to Seattle, Washington where they gave birth to their second child, Terri Powers-Hand and then continued his service with Social Security in Ridgecrest, California office for 13 years. In Ridgecrest, they gave birth to two sons, John Paul Powers and James Joseph Powers. He then went to work at China Lake Naval Base as a Human Resources Representative specializing in federal retirements, finally retiring from federal service on January 3, 1997. He then decided to try entrepreneurship and opened JP Enterprises, providing federal retirement consulting services to the general public and contracting with the federal government providing retirement seminars which he eventually retired for the last time.

His local memberships include the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Loyal Order of Moose.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 55 years, Sakiko Powers, daughter, Toni Kendrick of Bakersfield and her children Erika Kendrick, Tiffany Kendrick, Breahnna Moreno and Alyssa Moreno and two great grandchildren, William and Ezequiel, daughter, Terri Hand of San Diego with her son, Tyler Hand, son, John P. Powers of San Diego with wife Jacquie Powers and their daughter Vianna Powers, and son, James Powers of Bakersfield with wife Sunmi and two beautiful daughters Evelyn and Emily.

A wake will be held at Holland & Lyons Mortuary, 216 S. Norma Street, in Ridgecrest, CA on Friday, January 19 th from 10:00AM-1:00PM, followed by a funeral service the next day at St. Ann's Catholic Church, 446 W. Church Street, Ridgecrest, CA at 10:00AM on Saturday, January 20 th with a small reception immediately following in the Parish Hall.

There is an honorary reception later in the day at the American Legion at 4:00PM. A full military burial will be held at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA at 2:15PM on Monday, January 22, 2024 with a reception to follow. Information on the reception will be provided a the burial service.