Eloise Biegel Powell Kimber

ST. MARTINVILLE – Graveside Services will be conducted for Eloise Biegel Powell Kimber, age 100, at 10:00 am Friday, April 28, 2017 at Methodist Cemetery. Brother Jessie Charpentier, Pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church will officiate.

Mrs. Kimber was a native of St. Martinville, and a resident of Lacombe, LA for 65 years, became celestial on Tuesday, March 25, 2017.

Eloise Biegel was born on November 27, 1916 to the late Michael Murray Biegel and Beatrice Gutekuniat. Eloise moved to New Orleans at the age of 18, where she worked many jobs prior to working for the U.S. Government in the office of reclaiming office property from other government offices. She was also employed as the lead bookkeeper for Higgins Boat Builders, whom supplied boats during WWII.

After the war, Eloise and her husband Thomas Powell and her brother, Murray Biegel, formed a construction company named Biegel & Powell Construction Co. Inc. The company built bridges, waterfront property, subdivisions, roads and offshore oil pipelines. Upon her brother’s death, a new company was formed, T.W. Powell Construction Co, Inc. in Lacombe, LA. They began the development of Powell Heights and Fisherman’s Haven Subdivisions in Lacombe in the late 1970’s.

Eloise and her husband, Thomas Powell were founding members of the Forest Park Church of Christ in Mandeville, where she received a 40 year accommodation pin for her service. She was also a former member of the New Iberia Daughters of American Revolution.

Her family and friends will miss her dearly, but will always remember her great sense of humor.

She is survived by her daughter, Zelda Polk of Lacombe and one grandson, Kevin Polk of Miami, FL and one sister, Helen Hackney of Charlotte, NC.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas W. Powell; second husband, Carl Kimber; one son, Thomas E. Powell; two sisters, Thelma Doyle and Irene LaGrange and two brothers, Murray Biegel and Warren Biegel.

The family request that donations be made to your local food bank in lieu of flowers.

To view on-line obituary, and sign the guest register, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com.

Evangeline Funeral Homes, Inc. of St. Martinville is in charge of arrangements.