Little Mountain, SC | Richard Ralph Powlas Jr. passed away peacefully at home Monday December 5,2022, surrounded by loved ones. He was born in Salisbury, N.C. and the son of the late Richard Ralph Powlas Sr. and Verna Mae Edwards Powlas.
A memorial service will be held Friday December 9 at 11:00 a.m. ET at Dunbar Funeral Home - Dutch Fork Chapel in Irmo, SC. The family will welcome guests 1 hour prior to the service and host a reception immediately following the service at Dunbar Funeral Home. The burial service will take place Saturday December 10 at 1:00 p.m. in Memorial Park Cemetery located on W Innes St in Salisbury, N.C.
He was a graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC with a degree in business and Rockwell High School. As a charter member of Chapin Presbyterian Church, he committed his life to his lord and savior and his family - especially his wife, the love of his life and forever partner, Nancy. Richard, also known as “Dick” enjoyed gardening, golfing at Mid Carolina Country Club, various lake activities, and planning family reunions year after year.
In addition to his family, he was very proud of his country, having been the son of a WWII veteran, a boy scout, and part of the group that sent men to the moon and back. Early in his career Richard was project scheduler with Pan American World Airways and Harris Corp in Florida at Cape Kennedy Launch Complex and Saturn Launch Complexes. Later at he held positions at Westinghouse and United Technology in Columbia, SC and served as president of the Columbia Personnel Association.
To follow, Mr. Powlas held several careers in human resources and staffing, he had the pleasure of founding Palace Personnel Services in Columbia, SC, Spartanburg, SC, and Salisbury, NC. Prior to retirement along with his three sons and wife they founded Palace Builders in Little Mountain, SC.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the doctors, nurses, and medical staff for providing extra years of quality of life for Mr. Powlas.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his middle son, Alex Bowman Powlas. Richard is survived by his wife and partner of 61 years Nancy Bowman Steelman Powlas, also left to cherish his memory are sons; Richard Powlas III and Nicholas Powlas Sr; siblings Thomas C. Powlas and wife Nancy Jo, of Dickson, TN and Mary Anne Peeler of Lexington, SC; brother in law David Steelman and wife Janie of Elkin, NC.
Grandchildren Tiffany Montgomery and husband Damien Montgomery, Andrew Powlas, Grace Powlas, Rickey Powlas IV; Nicholas Powlas II, Nathan Powlas and their mother Pam Powlas; Trey McMillon-Bordeaux and wife Layla, Adam Powlas and fiancé Sarah Steele, Anna Powlas Beline and husband Nick and their mother Jennifer Bordeaux Powlas.
Four great-grandchildren Alivia Hodges, Damien Montgomery II, Vayda Montgomery, and Adeline Montgomery.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Chapin Presbyterian Church.
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