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- Roy K. Ponder, 57, of Fairbanks, Alaska, passed away tragically on April 7, 2013, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on the Parks Highway in Alaska.
Born on March 28, 1956, Roy was the son of Seldon and Edna Friend Ponder and grew up in the Stroudsburg, Pa., area. In his youth he often could be found working on vehicles and motorcycles, rebuilding his first engine at 14.
At a very young age, Roy became the man of the house, developing life skills that many don't achieve until much later in life. Integrity, loyalty, courage and responsibility are just a few qualities he gained and maintained throughout his life.
Roy graduated from the Stroudsburg Union High School in 1974. He attended York College of Pennsylvania, where he achieved a bachelor of science degree, cum laude, in Police Science in 1978. After college Roy was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1978, where he served for 15 years. Roy had many accomplishments in the Army but few were as dear to him as his graduation from the U.S. Army Ranger School. His superiors, peers and subordinates described him as a man who could do absolutely anything, was extremely intelligent, cool under stress, highly flexible, completely reliable with unquestionable integrity and moral standards. He excelled in all tasks and challenges. Throughout his military career, Roy found himself stationed at several different places, including Germany, East Tennessee, Colorado, Alabama, West Virginia and Alaska. While stationed in Alaska, he knew he had found the place he would call home.
Upon his departure from military service, Roy began to contribute to the Fairbanks community. In 1993, Roy was employed for the State of Alaska Correctional Department as a correctional officer. During the next six years, he had what is described by fellow officers as a meteoric rise through the ranks, ending with the title of acting superintendent. Roy's latest endeavor was as general manager of The Woodway in Fairbanks. Roy had a major influence on every business and employee he ever worked with.
One of Roy's most cherished achievements was the handcrafting of a home for himself and his wife Teresa. The craftsmanship and quality of that home is representative of the attention Roy paid to all aspects of his life. His love for Alaska was displayed in the activities he enjoyed, including hiking, riding snow machines, camping, traveling the state and simply being outdoors.
Paramount for Roy was family. He enjoyed visits with his children and especially his grandchildren as often as possible. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
Survivors include Teresa, his wife of 23 years; his sons, Austin (Angela) Ponder of Jessup, Md., and Daniel Roy Ponder of Carlisle, Pa.; daughter, Kristen (Chad) Trent of Erwin, Tenn., and son Ryan Dark of Bluefield, W. Va.; his siblings, brother, Joe Ponder of Seattle, Wash., and sister, Pat Ponder Smith of Bonita Springs, Fla.; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Hall of Princeton, W. Va., and Keith Hall, of Knoxville Tenn.; sisters-in-law, Brenda Helton of Lerona, W.Va., and Kathy Kelley of Princeton, W. Va.; granddaughters, Megan Ponder and Madison and McKinsey Trent; father- and mother-in-law, Dan and Leora Hall, Princeton W.Va.; uncle, Dyche Ponder of Lancaster, Ky.; aunt, Sally Dee Eirod of Madisonville, Tenn.; his nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Seldon and Edna Friend Ponder, and brothers-in-law, Jack Smith and Roger Hall.
The funeral will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at Stith Funeral Home. The Rev. Tommy Valentine will officiate. Burial will follow at Manse Cemetery, Paint Lick. Visitation will be from 11 to 1 p.m. prior to the service.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project. An online guestbook is available at www.stithfuneralhome.net. [1, 2]
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1956 - 2013 (57 years)
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