Edgar “Ed” Charles Ponder, 85, of Perryville, peacefully passed away Thursday, June 19, 2025, surrounded by his loving family at Mercy Hospital Southeast in Cape Girardeau.
He was born August 4, 1939, in Apple Creek, to Anton Charles and Bertha Ursula (Unterreiner) Ponder.
Ed and Judy M. Duvall were married on April 27, 1963, at Christ the Savior Catholic Church in Brewer. They were blessed with 62 years of marriage.
He served as a staff sergeant in the Missouri Army National Guard for 14 years. Ed was district resource supervisor with the Forestry Division of the Missouri Department of Conservation for 40 years. He then worked for the City of Perryville for 16 years until retiring in 2018. Ed was a 1957 graduate of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic High School in Perryville. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, where he served as an usher, participated in the Holy Name Society, was a Third Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus Council #1263, and belonged to the American Legion Post #133. He held several terms as president and vice president of the St. Vincent de Paul High School Alumni Board. Ed and his wife Judy were inducted into the very first class of St. Vincent de Paul’s Sports Hall of Fame for their many years of dedicated work with the St. Vincent de Paul sports program.
Survivors include his wife, daughter Victoria Roberts of Lockport, Ill.; son Mark Ponder of Jackson; daughter- in-law Jennifer (Neal) Fulks of Tucson, Ariz.; brother Robert (Cecelia “Tootie”) Ponder of St. Ann; six grandchildren, Anthony Glorioso, Gianna Glorioso, Kennedy Ponder, Nicholas Ponder, Tayven Ponder, and Paysen Ponder; and sister-in-law Antonia Ponder of Apple Creek.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Todd Ponder, three sisters — Virginia Wibbenmeyer, Genevieve Schloss, and Antonia Schnurbusch — and his brother, Norbert Ponder.
Visitation will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Perryville and will resume from 9 to 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025.
The Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Perryville, with Rev. Joe Geders, C.M., officiating.
Military funeral honors will be provided by American Legion Post #133 and the Delta Team.
Entombment will take place in the Mary Queen of Heaven Mausoleum at Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Todd Ponder Scholarship Fund, or St. Vincent de Paul Catholic schools.
Online condolences can be made at www.fordandyoungfuneralhome. com.
Ford & Young Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
