William Russell Ponder

William "Russ" Ponder, 93, of Richardson, Texas, passed away on January 21, 2026. A man who lived to make others smile, Russ leaves behind a legacy of service, entrepreneurship, and a deep, abiding love for his family and community.
Born on January 5, 1933, in Livingston, Kentucky, and raised in Danville, Illinois, Russ’s life was defined by a tireless work ethic and a generous heart. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1953, where he was assigned to telecommunications maintenance in remote Alaska during the Korean War. He continued his commitment to service in the Air Force Reserve after his active duty. He remained a cornerstone of the veteran community as a lifetime member of the VFW, Elks Club, and the American Legion.

Following his time in the Air Force, Russ embarked on a successful sales career, starting as a 7-Up salesman. He was, to the end, a dedicated 7-Up customer.
His life insurance career began in the early 1960s with Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, which led the family to move to Springfield, Illinois. He then moved to Kansas City as a Regional Supervisor for Kansas City Life Insurance Company. After moving to Richardson, Texas, he became a General Agent for Kansas City Life Insurance Company and eventually retired at age 87. He founded his own Property & Casualty Agency in 1983 and, soon after, brought his son-in-law, Mike Colvin, into the business, forming Ponder-Colvin and Associates. They later merged with the Gordon Lund Insurance Agency in 1994. In 2015, the agency name changed to Strive Insurance Group Inc., and that year also marked the addition of his grandson-in-law, Jason Matison, an agent with the company since 2007, as a new owner and partner.

Beyond his professional success, Russ was an avid cook who found joy in the kitchen. He took pride in preparing his family's favorite meals whenever they visited, ensuring no one ever left his table hungry. He loved traveling the world with his beloved wife of 59 years, Geneva, but he was just as happy at the beach, where he could spend hours playing in the ocean.
His family holds fast to the Christian promise of eternal life and rejoices that Russ has found rest and reunion in the presence of his Lord and Savior.
Russ was preceded in death by his wife, Geneva Ponder, his daughters Vikki Batts and Debbie Sanders, and his parents and five brothers. He is survived by his daughter Pam Colvin, and husband Mike, his son Steve Kingrey, and his wife Kay. He was the proud "Grandpa" to five grandchildren: Jason and Jaime Batts, Jennifer Matison, Kelly Montgomery, and Christopher Sanders, and eleven great-grandchildren: Logan, Casey, Austin, Peyton, Connor, Cooper, Kate, Luke, Gabriel, Samuel, and Elijah.

Russ’s mission in life was to brighten the days of those around him. He was known to all for his unfailing positivity, always answering "Great!" when asked how he was doing. His warmth and humor will be deeply missed by all who knew him.