L. J. "Jake" Ponder

L. J. “Jake” Ponder passed away Feb. 27, 2009, at his daughter’s home in Waco after a brief battle with cancer. Visitation in Waco will be at Grace Gardens Funeral Home and Crematorium from 6-8: p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 6, at Cochran Funeral Home in Onalaska. Burial will be at Center Hill Cemetery near Oakhurst, next to his beloved wife Betty. Following a brief graveside service, the family will be at the Ponder residence at 50 Jake’s Lane near Point Blank and wishes to invite all of Jake’s many friends and acquaintances to stop by to visit. Mr. Ponder was born Feb 11, 1925, in Hebron to John Coleman Ponder and Lillie Thornton Ponder. He was a World War II veteran and served as a medical specialist with General Patton’s Third Army in Europe, where he participated in four campaigns. Following World War II he was out of the Army for about one year, during which time he met and married Betty Lou Lott on April 20, 1946. They had two daughters, Sherry and Sandra. He reentered the U.S. Army in 1947, and happily served his country as a Dental Lab Technician with tours of duty in California, Alaska, and Fort Hood, Texas. He retired from the Army in 1966 with 22 years of active duty, and he and Betty moved to Houston, where they owned and operated Bellaire Dental Lab for 20 years. Jake served as President of the Dental Lab Association of Texas and President of the Greater Houston Dental Laboratory Association during the 1980’s. Upon retirement from the Dental Lab business, Jake and Betty moved to Point Blank fulfilling Jake’s dream to return to life in the country. During retirement, they were active in VFW chapters in Cleveland and Point Blank. Jake was always an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt and fish. While stationed at Fort Hood, he served as a game warden and hunting guide. He always had fishing and hunting stories to share with anyone who would listen. He never met a stranger and was a compassionate and generous friend. He was a happy and loving gentleman with a wonderful sense of humor and optimistic view of life. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Copperas Cove while stationed at Fort Hood, and a member of the Southside Church of Christ in Houston following his retirement from active duty. When his beloved wife of 60 years was stricken with cancer, he was a devoted caregiver until her death on Jan. 25, 2007. After her death, he continued to live at Point Blank until he was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2008 and he moved to his daughter and son-in-law’s home in Waco. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Jewell Miller and Flossie Sullivan; brothers, Houston Ponder and Donald Ponder; and his wife, Betty Ponder. He is survived by his two daughters, Sherry Shaw and husband Buddy of Waco, and Sandra York and husband Joe of Maricopa, Ariz.; two grandchildren, Brian Shaw of Waco and Dee Ann Kimbrough and husband Luke of Longview; and two great-grandchildren, Jacob and Caleb Kimbrough of Longview,. He is also survived by one brother, Bill Ponder and wife Verda of Woodville; two sisters, Joyce King of Pasadena and Mozelle Miller of Flint; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family appreciates Jake’s wonderful friends and neighbors in Point Blank: Jack and Penney Milledge, Harvey and Sharon McFadden, and Pete St. Pa who loved and cared for him. The family also sincerely thanks Providence Hospice for the care given to Jake in Waco, and especially thanks to Kimber Gholson and Sandra Ramirez of Providence Hospice who lovingly cared for him during the last three months of his life on earth. Special thanks to Hospice Volunteer Fleet VanRiper for his visits and friendship during Jakes’ illness.