WILLIAM JAMES "Bill" PONDER, age 91, of East Prairie, died Sunday, February 28, 2021, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau.

Born May 20, 1929, in the Dogwood Community of Mississippi County, to the late William Eugene Ponder and Gertrude Shoults Ponder, he grew up in the Dogwood Community and upon his high school graduation joined the United States Air Force.  Following his service to his country, he farmed with his family until 1964 and then went on to attend and graduate from Arkansas State University with a degree in Chemistry.  He embarked on a teaching career that would expand a number of years first teaching with the Bureau of Indian Affairs where he taught in Arizona, Oklahoma and Mississippi.  He then returned to his roots on the family farm and assumed a teaching position at Charleston High School. There he taught Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics until his retirement.  He continued his interest in the family farm as a landowner and was an avid gardener in his free time.    He was a member of the Dogwood United Methodist Church.

On December 20, 1978, he married Patrice Hunt, who survives.

Also surviving are his sons, Rudy (Mary Susan) Ponder of Sikeston and John (Sammie) Ponder of East Prairie; his stepson, Harding Conn of Paducah, KY; his grandchildren, Andrew Sneathern, Kena Lea Sorrells, Lydia Frye, Jenifer Ponder, Bill Ponder and Andy Ponder; 15 great grandchildren, as well as a number of cousins and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Ponder Martin and his twin brother, Gene Ponder.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at the Dogwood United Methodist Church.  The Rev. Brian Abbott, pastor, will officiate.

Interment with military honors will follow in the Dogwood Cemetery under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.

Pallbearers will be: Bill Ponder, Andy Ponder, Nick Ponder, Lonnie Ponder, Jones Castleman and Lance Castleman.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com .

Memorials may be made to: The Dogwood United Methodist Church, c/o Tammi Hutcheson, 204 S. 411 Road, East Prairie, MO 63845.