Raymond Ponder

Raymond A. Ponder, 81, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, at his home.

He was born July 7, 1929, in Apple Creek, Mo., to William and Clara Trapp Ponder. He and Dorothy Berkbigler were married April 21, 1951.

Raymond was raised in Uniontown, Mo., and attended school at Apple Creek, Mo. He honorably served in the U.S. National Guard from September 1950 to September 1953.

He was a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 in St. Louis. His employment included Capaha Sheet Metal and Golightly Sheet Metal, both in Cape Girardeau. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and former member of St. Mary's Cathedral, both in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors include his wife of 59 years, Dorothy of Jackson; seven children, Larry (Janice) Ponder of Wappapello, Mo., Randy (Nancy) Ponder of Gordonville, Ronald Ponder of Jackson, Allan Ponder of Jackson, Ellen (Bob) Bowman of Cape Girardeau, Sharon (Chris) Benton of Jackson, and Sheila (Keith) Grable of Oak Ridge; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Also three siblings, Antonia (Ron) Nauman of Blackwell, Mo., Martin (Helen) Ponder of House Springs, Mo., Louella Degenhardt of Perryville, Mo.; and a sister-in-law, Helen Ponder (the late William "Bill") of Apple Creek.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and five siblings, Rudy Ponder, Leona Meyer, Mary Robison, William "Bill" Ponder and Tony Ponder.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The Rev. David Hulshof will lead parish prayers at 7.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Vincent de Paul Church, with the Rev. Hulshof officiating. Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery at Apple Creek.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the American Parkinson Disease Association or American Cancer Society.

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