William L. Ponder,

LTC William L. Ponder, Jr., United States Army (Retired), beloved husband, colleague, friend and mentor, lost his valiant battle with Parkinson’s disease on May 7, 2010. Bill (Dub) was born on July 17, 1932 in Canton, Georgia. He attended public schools in Canton and graduated from Canton High School in 1949. He attended North Georgia College, Dahlonega, Georgia, for two years prior to Army service. Bill graduated from the University of Omaha, Nebraska with a Bachelor of General Education in 1965, and following his retirement from the Army received a second degree from the University of Texas El Paso in 1978 majoring in Business Administration. Bill attended Officers Candidate School (Class 29) and was commissioned in 1952 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Included in the many schools and colleges during his 25 years of active duty was the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was a member in good standing in various Veteran’s/social organizations including Chi Gamma Sota, Phi Alpha Theta and Phi Kappa Phi. His Army service began with a tour in Korea, followed by tours in Japan, Vietnam, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Okinawa, where he was Commander of the 8th Battalion 1st Artillery. For his outstanding military service, Bill was awarded the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, RVN Gallantry Cross w/Palm Medal, the National Defense Service Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster among other numerous awards and medals. LTC Ponder is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sumiko (Cathy). He is also survived by his sisters Nan A. Ponder and Naomi P. Alexander, both residing in Georgia and brother, Thomas Ponder in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Also surviving and living in Japan are brother-in-law Tatsumi Tsuchiya and his wife Kazuko and sister-in-law Toshiko and her husband Yasumasa Yuki. Bill is preceded in death by his parents William, Sr. and Mabel and he leaves several nieces and nephews and many friends and former colleagues around the world. A longtime member of the First Baptist Church in El Paso, a chapel memorial service will be conducted by Dr. Robert A. Nickell at Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast, 4632 Hondo Pass. Visitation will be held from 3:00-6:00 pm, on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Funeral Service at 10:00 am, Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Interment at Fort Bliss National Cemetery with full Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made the General fund at the First Baptist Church of El Paso, 805 Montana Ave., El Paso, TX 79902, or the National Parkinson’s Foundation, Inc., 1501 N.W, 9th Avenue/Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494, or to Hospice of El Paso, 1440 Miracle Way, El Paso, TX 79925. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Please visit on-line register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net