Sarah Elizabeth Fuss Powers, of 2449 Fairground Rd. Front Royal,Va., passed away on Oct. 3, 2012.

Raised on a farm near Shepherdstown, she was class valedictorian for her high school class of 1943, and graduated from Shepherd University with a degree in Home Economics in 1947.

After graduating she took a job teaching home economics and running the school cafeteria in St. Mary’s County, Md. She loved teaching the children and running the cafeteria but, according to her sister Ruth, it took too long to travel home so she became an Extension Agent in Sperryville, Va., which was closer. She loved this job and especially enjoyed working with the 4-H’ers and being able to teach others about nutrition, crafts and ways to make the home better. While working in Rappahannock she was involved in a car accident through which she was introduced her to Billy Powers, a State Farm agent. They fell in love, married in 1954 and started a family shortly thereafter. She retired from Extension Service to raise her new family and later worked with her husband in the State Farm office. After more than 20 years, she retired from insurance when her son retired from the Navy and took over the business in 1996.

One of her great loves was the Rockland Community Church. She played the piano for the children’s choir, taught Sunday school for many years and worked tirelessly catering weddings and other events along with the other ladies of the church.

She also loved tending her garden, “putting up” food for her family to eat, taking care of her chickens and milk cows and working on her quilts.

She is predeceased by her parents, Jesse George Fuss and Gay Elizabeth Fuss; husband Billy Powers, Sr.; her brother Franklin Fuss; and her brother-in-law Forrest Wesson.

Her surviving family includes her daughter, Mary Powers Ryan and husband Pat; her son, Bill Powers and his wife Mary; her granddaughters Rebecca and Amanda Powers; her sister, Ruth Wesson; her sister-in-law, Marjorie Fuss; and her nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Friday, Oct. 12, from 5-7 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m. at Rockland Church conducted by The Rev. Christof Weber. Interment will follow at the Rockland Cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers should be sent to the Rockland Community Church, 2921 Rockland Rd., Front Royal, VA 22630; Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork St., Winchester, VA 22601; or to C-CAP, 316 N. Royal Ave., Front Royal, VA 22630.

Pallbearers will be Maurice Bowen, Tommy Megeath, John Thomson, Gary Good, Larry Dillard, Ben Weddle, George Chapman and Bob Gault.

Honorary pallbearers will be caregivers at The Southerlands, Hidden Springs, Blue Ridge Hospice, Home Instead, present and past members of the Rockland Community Church and all of her friends.