Sept. 23, 1935 - April 5, 2008OSCEOLA - Donald E. Pontius, Jr., 72, residing in Osceola, passed away Saturday, April 5, 2008, at 11:25 P.M. in the Golden Living Center, Elkhart. He was born on September 23, 1935, in Elkhart, to the late Donald E. and Norma (Neal) Pontius Sr. On August 25, 1958, he married the former Janet Grant in Elkhart. Surviving are his wife, Janet Grant Pontius of Osceola; his son, B. Scott (Becky) Pontius of Mishawaka; grandchildren, Sara Pontius of Osceola and Kevin Pontius of Mishawaka; and his two sisters, Shirley Mabie of Elkhart and Deborah (Michael) Wyman of Goshen. Donald was preceded in death by his son, Grant E. Pontius, on March 4, 2004, and by a sister, Patricia Pace. Mr. Pontius was an electronic technician for the Bendix Corporation, working in Mishawaka and then South Bend, retiring in 1994. He was a graduate of Elkhart High School and attended the DeVry Institute in Chicago. He attended with his wife the Gospel Center Missionary Church in South Bend. He had served in the United States Army from 1955 until his honorable discharge in 1958, and then served in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1961. Donald was an avid fisherman, enjoyed playing golf and doing crossword puzzles, and liked to listen to jazz music. He was a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan. A service to celebrate his like will be held on Sunday, April 13, at 4:00 P.M. in the Gospel Center Missionary Church, located at 930 S. 30th. St. in South Bend. Pastor Charles Husted and Rev. Momcilo Vincic will officiate. A meal will follow the service. At his request cremation has taken place, with the Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart in charge of arrangements. To share a memory of Donald or send a condolence to the family, please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com. The family request that memorials be directed to either the American Stroke Association National Center, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231; or to DSRTF (Down's Syndrome Research & Treatment Foundation), 755 Page Mill Road, Suite A-200, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on 4/9/2008.