Dorothy Ponder

Dorothy L. Ponder, 80, of Jackson, passed away Thursday, July 4, 2013, at the home of a daughter in Jackson.

She was born August 2, 1932, near Perryville, Mo., to Maurus and Irma Lawrence Berkbigler. She and Raymond Ponder were married April 21, 1951. They had been married 59 years when he passed away Oct. 5, 2010.

Dorothy was raised near Perryville, and graduated from the former Cissell Elementary School in Perryville.

Dorothy worked at the former shoe factory in Jackson and the former Thorngate in Cape Girardeau; she retired from the Jackson Manor Nursing Home in the late 1990s.

She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and a former member of St. Mary's Cathedral, both in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors include seven children, Larry (Janice) Ponder of Wappapello, Mo., Randy (Nancy) Ponder of Gordonville, Ronald Ponder of Jackson, Allan Ponder of Cape Girardeau, Ellen (the late Bob) Bowman of Cape Girardeau, Sharon (Chris) Benton of Jackson and Sheila (Keith) Grable of Oak Ridge, Mo.; 14 grandchildren, Tammy Peters, Robert Bowman, Daniel Bowman, Kelly Eastman, Amanda Broach, Ryan Benton, Brooke Grable, Alyssa Grable, Shelly Hartlein, Michael Ponder, Jason Ponder, Cassie Jordan, Kim Wilder and Jimmy Stowers; and 19 great-grandchildren, Lillian, Ashley, Nick, Meredith, Brittany, Dakota, Tyler, Timmy, Dylan, Destiney, Corey, Laela, Alaina, Carson, Caleb, Christopher, James, Crystal, Amber and one expected in February.

Also surviving are five siblings, Leroy (Corena) Berkbigler of Jackson, Ethel (the late Herbie) Winschel of Apple Creek, Mo., Harold (Laura) Berkbigler of St. Clair, Mo., Marie (Wayne) Renaud of Perryville and Margie (Dale) Zahner of Festus, Mo.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Hayleigh Sue Ponder; and an infant brother, Leo Berkbigler.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The Rev. David Hulshof will lead parish prayers at 7 p.m., followed immediately by the rosary.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. David Hulshof officiating.

Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery at Apple Creek.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Alzheimer's Association.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.