Rhonda Kay Powell was born on July 16, 1960. She grew up in Liberty, Indiana, and lived in the small community for most of her life. After high school, she worked at Goodwill Industries in Cincinnati, Ohio and Muncie, Indiana. Later, she worked in Noblesville, Indiana for Third Phase.
She adored her nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews and was always glad to see them. She had ocean-side summer vacations at Hatteras Island with her her nieces Kerry and Jessica and their families, and her sister Bernice. She attended her niece Quest’s wedding in Nevada and went sightseeing around Lake Tahoe, Reno and Virginia City. Her nephew Dan was not only a relative, but also a friend. They always enjoyed one another’s company.
Up until her late 40s, when arthritis began to make it difficult to write, Rhonda was a frequent letter writer. Her love for her family, and her devotion to God, were always evident in her heartfelt letters.
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| Letter from Rhonda, 2001 |
She memorized the phone numbers of dozens of family members and friends, and would leave frequent messages, referring to herself by her nickname, R-Pooh. Her phone messages often included her favorite sayings such as “are you up and bright-eyed and bushy-tailed?”
Rhonda loved nothing more than making people laugh. Even in her last days she found ways to make others laugh with funny comments about her favorite TV shows like Dallas and Days of Our Lives and General Hospital.
Rhonda passed away peacefully while in hospice comfort care at Reid Hospital on Jan. 29, 2025. In the days before, her sisters Connie and Bernice were with her, playing her favorite gospel tunes and Elvis songs, and many of her loved ones visited and called.
We already miss R-Pooh.
