Robert S. Powell 1944-2026

Robert was born July 31, 1944, in Warren, a son of Robert S. Sr. and Elizabeth Burns Powell.

He was a 1962 graduate of Mathews High School.

For 37 years, Robert was an autoworker on the assembly line at General Motors in Lordstown, was one of the first 500 hired and retired in 2003. He was a UAW committeeman, which he was very proud of.

After his retirement he provided transportation to the Amish, which he really enjoyed until his COPD got worse, and still kept in touch with everyone.

Robert was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving during the Vietnam War. He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bennington out of Hawaii and was honorably discharged in 1965.

He loved gardening and once grew a 12-foot cherry tomato plant. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, talking and sharing complaints with friends Nick, Bob, Stan and others. Bob enjoyed going to the casinos and was an avid Cleveland Cavaliers fan. But most of all, he loved spending time with his family, especially grandsons whom he taught to fish.

His nickname, “BA,” was given to him by his older grandson, and no one knows why, but to his brother and sisters and the rest of his family he was “JOE” – there were already four Bobs. Robert will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his family: his high school sweetheart, the former Barbara L. Krauss, whom he married Aug. 2, 1963, at Howland Community Church; his daughters, Marianne L. (Adam) Goldenberg of Lyndhurst and Deann (George) Kirby of Cortland; two grandchildren, George Kirby and fiance Bri Bennett, and Jake Kirby. He also leaves his siblings, Barbara (John) Scott of Howland, Cheryl Roberts of Girard and Tom (Robin) Powell of Vienna; brother-in-law, Bob (Karen) Krauss of Fairborn; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Beside his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Jim Roberts.

There will be services held at noon Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, with calling hours 10 a.m. to noon, at Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home. Military honor will be provided by the Wheatland American Legion Honor Guard.

Robert will be laid to rest in Hillside Cemetery in Cortland.

Special thanks to the staff of Select Specialty Care in Boardman and St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Memorial contributions may be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars Processing Center, P.O. Box 2002, Milford, NH 03055- 9700, vfwfundraising@vfw.org.

Family and friends are invited to visit www.stewart-kyle.com to share memories and condolences.

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