Born on July 1, 1947, in Brooksville, Indiana, he was a son of the late Alfred and Mary Morgan Ponder.
Paul was a gate hauler, manufacturer, and salesman. He was also a timberman, excavator, and tobacco farmer. He formerly owned and operated Ponder’s Skating Rink in Yosemite. He became a member of Middleburg Baptist Church in 1980.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Helen Hines Ponder, who he wed on November 30, 1966, of Yosemite; a daughter, Kathy (Kenneth) Lucas of Middleburg; a son, Paul (Sonja) Ponder, Jr. of Liberty; four sisters, Margaret Black, Bonnie Smither, Thelma Shirey, and Francis Davis; three brothers, Jimmy Ponder, Robbie Ponder, and Eddie Ponder; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by three sisters, Pauline Durham, Wanda Joyce Ponder, and Sarah Ponder; and one brother, Franklin Ponder.
Bro. Keith Bowling officiated a private burial for Mr. Ponder at Willow Springs Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKinney-Brown Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.mckinneybrown.com