Cole Loyd Ponder

Cole Loyd Ponder passed away Thursday July 2, 2020 at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Louis. Mo. He was 69 Years of age.

Cole was born October 10, 1950 in La Junta, Colorado to the late Paul Loyd and Clorinda Marie Ulibarri Ponder. He has one brother Danny Paul Ponder (Linda) of Toledo, Washington and one sister Shyrl Kim Ponder (York) of San Francisco, California.

He graduated high school in Scio, Oregon in May 1969.

Cole enlisted in the Marine Corp March 1970 in Salem, Oregon. He recieved his training at the Marine Corp Base, Camp Pendleton, San Diego, California. He served for 6 years and was in the Vietnam Conflict in 1971.

While in the Marine Corp, he met and married Beverlee G. Williams June 30, 1973 at Camp Pendleton San Diogo, California. They had 3 children: Paul T. Ponder (Brandy) of Joplin, Mo. Annarose Ponder Schmidt (Chad) of St. Louis and Mary J. Ponder of Kansas City, MO.

He left the Marine Corp after his divorce and moved to Monroe City, MO., where he met Elena M. Shrum. They married June 15, 1979 and had two children: Pamela N. Ponder Gray (Bryan) of Rolla and Clara B. King (Nathan) of Rolla.

He joined the Army National Guard in 1977. He has a total of 33 years in the service of his country.

While he was in the Army National Guard, he served in Iraq in 2004-2005.

Cole worked for the St James School District for 33 years and retired in 2006.

He leaves his wife, 5 children and eight grandchildren. His grandchildren are Derek Schimidt, Zoey Schmidt, Caleb Ponder, Benjamin Gray, Lucy Gray, Jake Gray, Zackary King and Wyatt King.

He is preceaded in death by his father, mother, half brother Bryan Hollingsworth and Step Father Fred Hollingsworth.

Cole loved the Lord, his family, and his country.

Visitation for Cole Ponder will be held at 10 am Tue July 7th at the Jones Funeral Home in St James

Memorial Service with Full Military Honors for Cole Ponder will be conducted at 11 am Tue July 7th at the Jones Funeral Home in St James with Allen Smith Officating.

Burial of the Ashes will be held at a later date at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Ft Leonard Wood Mo.

Memorials may be made to Mid-America Transplant.

All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James.

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