Mr. A. Frederick Powell, WWII veteran and longtime owner of Powell’s Electric Service in Hatboro, has passed away at 102

Mr. A. Frederick Powell, longtime owner of Powell’s Electric Service, located at 304 Bonair Avenue in Hatboro, passed away on February 26. He was 102.

He took over the family business until his retirement in 1989 and was known for his community service work with the Hatboro Rotary Club. He and his son, Doug, were honored by Hatboro Borough in December 2024 for their longstanding business and contributions to the community.

The borough posted the following on the family’s behalf yesterday:

Fred’s father and great uncle opened their first store on Byberry Road in 1922 called Powell’s Electric Shop which sold electric appliances and also offered electrical upgrade services for customers’ homes to accommodate these new appliances. After Fred’s honorable discharge from the United States Army, he joined the family business and took the reigns in the 1950s, working alongside his father before eventually purchasing the business and expanding it further. Fred’s dedication to Powell’s Electric Shop laid the foundation for the company’s success, and in 1990, after nearly 40 years of leadership, he passed the torch to his son, Doug, who changed the business name to Powell’s Electric Service. In addition to running his own business, Fred Powell served as a member of the Hatboro Rotary Club where he further dedicated his time to serving the Hatboro community.

As a trusted family-owned business, the Powell family has created a lasting legacy in Hatboro and the surrounding communities. Today, Powell’s are full service electrical contractors, and they handle everything from small residential repairs to large commercial installations. After installation, Powell’s assists their customers maintain everything they install. Powell’s is large enough to handle big jobs, but not too big to lose the family owned “personal touch” with all services they provide. Powell’s pride themselves on a job well done, performing work in a timely manner, and most importantly ensuring customer satisfaction. These core values have remained Powell’s top priority for decades and are exactly why customers continue to utilize their services generation after generation.

Mr. Fred Powell was recognized by Borough Council, Mayor Schultz, and State Representative Guenst at the December 16, 2024 Council Meeting for his outstanding commitment to Hatboro. We are so thankful to have been able to celebrate Mr. Powell’s legacy and his selfless dedication to our community that will surely live on forever.

Mr. Powell also served in the Army during WWII from February 1946 until February 1949, his obituary said.

Services were held this morning.

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