Couple found dead

By Donna Swicegood

Neighbors in Union Grove were stunned Friday morning when a local couple was found dead in their home on West Memorial Highway.
James Powell, 73, and his wife, Ruth Delet, 62, were found inside their home by their daughter at about 9:30 a.m. Friday.
The Iredell County Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation into the deaths, and released few details Friday night.
"We're looking at it as a death investigation," said Lt. Stanley Watkins.
Watkins said authorities are not sure how the couple died, and are awaiting the results of an autopsy, which is scheduled for this morning.
The autopsies will be conducted at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
The couple was found insdie the kitchen of the brick house, which sits across the road from Myrtle Beach Golf in Union Grove.
As sheriff's deputies arrived Friday morning and crime scene tape was tied around the exterior of the house, residents stopped to see what had happened.
Clifton benge, who is retired from the Statesville Fire Department, said he was stunned by the deaths.
"It's unbelievable to think that something happened to both of them. They're the kind of people you thought would be around forever," he said.
Benge said he knew the Powells well, dropping by frequently to talk with James, who restored cars.
Benge last spoke to the Powells earlier this week when he drove by and saw James working on a truck body.
"We talked for about five or 10 minutes," he said.
Benge described Powell as a "super nice guy." He'd do anything for you. He was a nice all-around guy."
He said Delet was more of a homebody than her husband. "She was a good person," he said.