Claudelia Powers

Claudelia Powers, age 88 of Waco, passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 15, 2025 at Scott’s Funeral Home with Pastor Larry Williams officiating.  Interment will immediately follow at Restland Cemetery.

Claudelia was born June 5, 1937 to the late Claude and Frances Melton Sims in Waco, Texas. She grew up in Turnersville, Texas, later graduating from Gatesville High School in 1954. On June 13, 1956, she married Robert Blanchard and together they made their home in Gatesville. She worked briefly at the Waco Tribune Herald in advertising, before going to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a customer service representative. She worked her way up within the company, ultimately retiring in 1991 as an executive in their Engineering Department while in St. Louis, Missouri. She continued to live in St. Louis for a couple of years before moving back to Waco to be closer to her daughter. Claudelia, affectionately known by her grandchildren as “Meme”, had a soft, warm and loving personality and was cherished by everyone who knew her. In her retirement, she enjoyed gardening, crocheting, reading, baking, traveling with family and friends, and spending time with her daughter and grandchildren.

Claudelia was preceded in death by her parents; and sisters, Ella and Sharon. She is survived by her daughter, Michele Garcia and husband, Marty; sisters, Charlotte Smith, Margie Perry and husband, Ken; brother, Roland Sims and wife, Vickie; grandchildren, Monica Osbun and husband, Brent, Lindsay Atchison, Misty Atchison and fiancé, Erik Knecht, Britt Garcia and wife, Ashley, and Greg Garcia and wife, Tiffany; ten great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Memorials in Claudelia’s name may be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Waco Salvation Army, or to Meals on Wheels Waco.