Ralph Powell

Ralph LaMoine Powell, 81, of Grove, Oklahoma passed away at 5:45 a.m. on the morning of November 14, 2013 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. Ralph was born July 22, 1932 in Welch, Oklahoma, son of Cecil Powell and Pauline (Fogle) Powell. A 1951 graduate of Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Ralph went on to study at Oklahoma State University and graduated from Tulsa University in 1957 with a degree in Business Administration. Ralph was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army (1953-55), having served during the Korean Conflict. Ralph founded and served as President/CEO of both The American Equity Life Insurance Company of Louisiana and The American Equity Life Insurance Company of Oklahoma, as well as Founder, President and Chairman-of-the-Board of the Holding Company, Okliana Corporation. He founded with long-time friend and business partner, Hubert Miller, Pinnacle Nutritionals, Inc. which manufactured and sold nutritional supplements nation-wide. Ralph was proud of his Cherokee heritage and was a registered, voting member of the Cherokee Nation. He ran for Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1976, the first election after W. W. "Bill" Keeler stepped down as Cherokee Chief in 1975. By the smallest of margins, Ralph lost that election to Ross Swimmer, who became a life-long friend. Recently, Ralph was inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), by virtue of his ancestry on both his mother's and father's sides. Further genealogical research - conducted by Ralph's daughter, Capucine - also uncovered a link all the way back to the original Jamestown Colony in the early 1600s. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil Powell and Pauline (Fogle) Powell. Ralph is survived by his son, James W. Scott, of Tulsa, and daughter, Capucine Powell. and granddaughter, Alexis Nikole, both of Grove. Ralph leaves two sisters, Rose Alice Robinson, and nephew Michael Walters, both of Cole Camp, Missouri, and sister, Illa Faye Massey, and nephew Larry Massey, both of Broken Arrow. Graveside services will be held 10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 21, 2013 at Polson Cemetery. Military rites will be provided by the Grove Veterans Ritual Team. Friends and family may leave online condolences by viewing Ralph's obituary at www.honoringmemories.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home in Grove, Oklahoma.

Visitation Details

Wednesday, November 20th, 2013 5:00pm - 8:00pm, Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home - Grove

Service Details

Thursday, November 21st, 2013 10:00am, Polson Cemetery

Interment Details

Polson Cemetery