Funeral service for Barbara Ponder, age 84 of Como, Texas will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, March 10, 2023 at Greenpond Baptist Church with Bro. Terry Bolton officiating. Interment will follow at Greenpond Cemetery with Richard Teer, Jerry Cook, Charley Dickey, Larry Brown, Frankie Coker, Jimmy Barrett, Bunky Hill, Dennis Smith and Dwight Smith serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Mrs. Ponder passed away on February 27, 2023 at Mustang Creek in Frisco, Texas.
Barbara was born on September 6, 1938 in Comanche, Texas to Barney Davis and Ruth (Steele) Davis. After graduating from Comanche High School, she attended Howard Payne University on a band scholarship where she was a majorette for the Liberty Belles. There she earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and after graduation she took a job as a high school teacher with Brownwood ISD in 1962. It was there that her career in education began. In her 36 years as a teacher, Barbara worked at Brownwood ISD, Garland ISD, Quitman ISD, Yantis ISD, and ultimately retired in 1998 after more than 20 years of service with Sulphur Springs ISD.
While teaching in Garland, Barbara met the school’s Vice- Principal, Percy Junior (P.J.) Ponder. The two fell in love and on August 5, 1967 they were married in Dripping Springs, Texas. In 1971 Barbara gave birth to her son Gregory Alan Ponder, and in 1974 she had her daughter Christa Ann (Ponder) Abraham. In 1974 the couple moved from Garland to P.J.’s childhood hometown where they built a home in the Greenpond community. Barbara established deep roots in Greenpond. It was there that she raised her family and taught her children to appreciate the small-town way of living…all the while travelling with them at least annually to ensure they were cultured beyond her small piece of Heaven there in Hopkins County.
Barbara was a very involved member of Greenpond Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, routinely sang specials, and served on any church committee that could use her service. She especially enjoyed her role as floral coordinator, as she loved to decorate for holidays, changing of the seasons, and any church-related events.
Upon retirement in 1998 Barbara travelled frequently with her husband, P.J.. Whether it was visiting children and grandchildren or travelling the world with close friends; the Teers, Cooks, and Dickeys, she was always on the go…but always happy to return to the home and life she had built in Greenpond. Even after her husband’s passing on July 30, 2016, Barbara remained in Greenpond. She could be seen daily, travelling the East Texas roads in search of antiques, the perfect outfit (complete with matching jewelry, purse, and shoes), or a fresh batch of Dairy Queen’s Chicken and Dumplings. Barbara was fiercely independent, living by herself and unassisted until 2022.
Barbara is survived by her son, Greg Ponder; daughter, Christa Abraham and husband, J.J.; grandchildren, Paxton Ponder, Sofia Abraham and Eli Abraham.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; husband, P.J.; brothers, Aubrey Davis, Toby Davis and
Herbert Davis; sisters, Wanda Davis Moore and Billie Ruth Davis Smith.
Arrangements under the direction of Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home.
The online register can be signed at www.murrayorwosky.com
