Grant William Ponder, of Vienna, formerly of Dixon, was born on October 25, 1912, in Miller County, a son of Otto Winslow and Molly Belle (Ferguson), and departed this life at 5:00 a.m., on Thursday, June 30, 2016, in the Maries Manor Care Center, Vienna, where he had been a resident for the past three years. Mr. Ponder had attained the age of 103 years, 8 months, and 5 days.

He was united in marriage on August 20, 1938, at Tuscumbia, to the former Miss Mary Evelyn Helton, and to this union, four children were born. Mr. Ponder was preceded in death by his wife on November 10, 2003; as well as one daughter, Linda Lou Wilson, on April 26, 1974; his father, Otto, on December 29, 1962; his mother, Molly, on March 16, 1962; two brothers, Earl Ponder and Virgil Ponder; and three sisters, Geneva Atwell, Gladys Asadorian, and Lorene Allen.

He had been a part of the Church of Christ for most of his life and had attended the Dixon Church of Christ while living in Dixon. In the earlier years of his working career, Mr. Ponder had been employed by the United States Civilian Conservation Corps and had helped build many of the structures located in the state parks at the Lake of the Ozarks. He had also be in farming and at the time of his retirement on September 30, 1974, was employed by the Missouri Department of Corrections as a Guard. Activities he especially enjoyed doing were dancing, coon hunting, fishing, and just loved life in general.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Ponder include: Two sons, Arthur Jackie Ponder of the state of Missouri, and William Roger Ponder of Vienna; one daughter, Sharon Ricker, of rural Dixon; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and huge number of friends.