PHILIP JOSEPH PONDER, age 67, died Saturday, February 1, 2014, in Luling, Louisiana.

He was born May 20, 1946 to Evelyn Ponder who survives of Cape Girardeau and the late Philip James Ponder, Jr. He had lived in Mississippi County most of his life where he was employed with Ponder Chevrolet Buick Company in Charleston and then with Jarvis Motor Company in Sikeston. A member of the Charleston United Methodist Church, he owned and operated a greenhouse where he grew roses that he sold to area florists. He moved to Luling, Louisiana, in 2008.

On June 2, 1979, he married Nancy Jane Baker who survives of the home.

Also surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Leia and Ben Milster of Luling, LA, and Gina and William Taylor stationed with the US Air Force in Guam; one son, P.J. Ponder, a student at Northwest Louisiana State in Natchitoches, LA; one brother, Jim (Sarah) Ponder of Charleston; and four grandchildren, Ellie and Levi Milster and Aleyna and Isaiah Taylor.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one son, Benjamin Ponder, one granddaughter, Kyra Taylor, and one brother, Lee Ponder.

Visitation will be held at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, 2014, where a memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Carolyn Jo Ponder of Southlake, TX, will officiate.

The family requests memorial contributions to given to:

American Heart Association
3816 Paysphere
Chicago, IL 60674

~~ or ~~

American Diabetes Association
PO Box 11454
Alexandria, VA 22312