Emma Lou Walker Powell

Emilu, as she was known in many art circles in San Antonio, Texas, her birthplace, and later in Houston, Texas, was a descendant of General Winfield Scott.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse Fisher Bailey Walker, and Franklin Boyce Walker of San Antonio, Texas.

Her mother was a direct descendant of Baron Adam Fisher of England and Germany and her family resided on a land grant from King George. Her father's family was an old South Carolina family which included many noblemen, ministers, and deacons dating back to the 1600's.

Emilu, and her husband, David Dickinson Powell, now deceased, were members of Chapelwood United Methodist Church, the Houston Club, Houston Racquet Club, as well as many Houston philanthapic organizations. Emilu won a scholarship to the Art Students League in New York City where she excelled and went on to study under former classmates there, Jackson Pollack and Wilhem Dekoonig.

She had become a well known fashion artist while in New York, and, upon returning to San Antonio, continued her studies, under many other well known artists at the Witte Museum and McNay Art Institute of San Antonio, as well as former New York award winning artist, Reginal Rowe.

She was a member of many San Antonio Women's Clubs including the Bright Shawl, The Rotary/Anne's as well as the art clubs and museums there.

Emilu became a master in abstract design winning many prizes for her semi-abstract figure painting as well as her portraiture work when she moved to Houston, Texas, in the mid 1960's.

She became a member of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston and the Glassel School of Art of Houston, and the Art League of Houston.

She has exhibited her work in Texas at the Witte Museum of San Antonio, Laguna Gloria Museum of Austin, as well as the Blaffer Gallery, the Houston Art League and the Jewish Museum of Houston, as well as teaching an art course at the University of Houston.

In addition, she assisted one of her daughters, Anne Wlodarski of Los Angeles, California, in teaching art to under privileged children there.

She is survived by her three daughters, Beverly Dickinson Powell Kiger and husband, Thomas Clinton Kiger, Jr., Diana Dickinson Powell Skripka and husband, Dr. Charles F. Skripka, Jr., Anne Walker Powell Wlodarski and husband, Robert Wlodarski of Westhills, California and three grandchildren, Dalton Menzies of Houston, Laura Shannon Skripka Battista of Milan, Italy and Ginger Emory Skripka Palumbo of Houston.

A private family interment will be held in San Antonio, TX.