John Anderson Ponsford

John Anderson Ponsford M.D., member of a pioneer El Paso family, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2010. He was born on September 11, 1928 in El Paso, TX. His parents were Louise Stevens Ponsford and Emanuel Edgar Ponsford. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, E.E. Ponsford, Jr., and his son, John A. Ponsford, Jr. He attended Dudley School and El Paso High School. He graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA where he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. He married Carolyn Gay in Scottsboro, AL in 1952. He received his M.D. from the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston, TX. He was in Family Practice with general surgeon, Dr. Joe Floyd, in El Paso for 5 years before doing his residency in Anesthesia at Baylor Medical School in Houston, TX. He practiced in El Paso for 32 years and retired in 1995. He was a member of the El Paso County Medical Society, American Medical Association, Texas and American Associations of Anesthesiology. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, his son, Dr. Richard G. Ponsford (Andrea), El Paso, TX, daughter, Leigh P. Lovelady (Stuart), daughter-in-law, Caroline V. Ponsford, Birmingham, AL, 8 grandchildren, Emily Ponsford, Birmingham, AL, Julie Ellis (Jared), Birmingham, AL, Will Sessions, Dallas, TX, Ginny Sessions, Washington, DC, Cameron Ponsford, Austin, TX, Tricia Ponsford, Dallas, TX, Mitchell Ponsford, San Antonio, TX, Jenna Ponsford, College Station, TX, and one great-granddaughter, Olivia Ellis. John got his private pilot’s license at age 16 and loved anything and everything that involved flying and aircraft. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed by his family. A memorial service, with visitation immediately following, will be Monday, December 20 at 1:00 pm at St. Francis on the Hill. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Salvation Army, 4300 E. Paisano Dr., El Paso, TX 79905, Rescue Mission of El Paso, 1949 W. Paisano, El Paso, Tx 79922, or to a favorite charity. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net