Fox T. Ponder, long time resident of Russell Springs died Saturday evening on October 26, 2013 at the Thomson Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore, Kentucky.
He was 93 years old. He was the son of Beverly and Iola Ponder, born in Sidell Kentucky in 1920. He was preceded in death by his brothers Squire, Sam, Dan and sisters Lucy Ponder and Terry Norfleet. He was the father of Steven Fox Ponder, Todd Victor Ponder and Tami Ponder Schweitzer. He is survived by his daughter Tami, his grandchildren Victor Steven Smith of Lexington Kentucky, Carolyn Lee Fernald of Portland Maine, and Lauryn Ponder Smith of Jackson Wyoming.
He is also survived by his great grandchildren Fox Stephen Fernald, Eleanor Ponder Fernald, and Fisher Nixon Fernald of Portland Maine. Fox was a career United States Air Force Pilot and 15 year FAA inspector, investigator and instructor. Most notably he flew combined 100 missions over the China Burma India Hump, 215 mission in the Berlin Airlift, and the Korean Airlift. He also flew support for “Operation Tan Glove” which was instrumental in the mapping of the Geo-Magnetic Equator.
His contributions and research in the genealogy of the Ponder-Hensley family contributed to the volume of “Kentucky Ponders” copyright 1983. Fox was known for his love of flying, his ability to tell a good story, and his appreciation for a faithful dog. He was a sportsman who loved the out of doors, loved to fish for salmon in Alaska and hunt deer in the western states.
A solid friend, a wonderful Father, an amazing Grandfather and a loving GreatGrandfather. Everyone in his family will try to live a little bit of the life that he loved so much with honor and respect.
Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. CST on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at the Bernard Funeral Home Chapel Russell Springs with a graveside service to follow at 3:30 p.m. EST at the Squire Hensley Cemetery in Oneida Kentucky.
Memorials may be made through Bernard Funeral Home to Thomson Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore Kentucky which supports Kentucky veterans or, The Russell County Sportsman Club.
Local arrangements have been entrusted to the Rominger Funeral Home of Manchester.
