Entering her eternal life and Christian reward, Carol J. Pontius, went home with her Lord at 7:18 a. m. on Friday, August 1, 2003.
Carol, 58, a lifetime Teegarden and Walkerton resident, lived at 1156 Georgia St., Walkerton, Ind. She died in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, from complications following open heart surgery on Monday.
Born in Teegarden on May 22, 1945, she was the daughter of William Victor and Ruth I. Chandler Williams (Stoneburner).
She attended Teegarden Elementary school and graduated from Tyner High School with the class of 1963.
On April 12, 1964, in Teegarden, Carol and Wayne L. Pontius were married, and Carol became, what she called her ‘most important job,’ a homemaker and mother.
She loved time with her family especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed fishing the local lakes, reading her Bible and devotional materials. She collected ‘Precious Moments’ and liked working crossword puzzle word searches. She also appreciated the arts, plays and musicals.
Carol was a devoted member of the Pine Creek Church of the Brethren, North Liberty, since 1991. Bible study and Christian Fellowship meant a great deal to her. Her faith was her lifeline and she was always ready to serve others in volunteer work.
Until just this past month, she and three other dear and devoted friends from youth: Janet Perschbacher, Sharry Kinney and Joanna Burns, have continued to get together for monthly visits. They will miss her smiles, her faith and her friendship.
Carol is survived by Wayne, her husband of 39 years and by their son and four daughters and their families.
They are: her son and daughter-in-law, Timothy A. and Brenda Pontius, Crystal Lake, Ill.; Janet K. Pontius, Walkerton; Victoria M. and Jeffrey Stevens, Nappanee; Barbara K. Bradshaw, Salyersville, Ky.; and Michelle D. Pontius, South Bend.
Eight grandchildren also survive together with two sisters and a brother; Shirley and Richard Krull, Plymouth; Norma Rowe, Elkhart; and William and Sandra Williams, LaPorte. An uncle, Alfred Chandler of Bradenton, Fla., and numerous nieces and nephews survive as well. Step-brothers; Henry E. and Leona Stoneburner Jr. of Hesperia, Mich., Richard L. and Carol Stoneburner and Robert L. and Linda Stoneburner all of Plymouth also survive.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her stepfather, Henry E. Stoneburner, Sr. and an infant brother, Bobby.
Visitation and a celebration of her life will be held from 2 to 7 p.m., Sunday, August 3, 2003, in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, and for one hour prior to services in the church on Monday.
The Monday funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., August 4, 2003, in the Pine Creek Church of the Brethren, Pine at Stanton Roads, North Liberty, Ind. Norman L. Replogle, pastor of the church, will officiate.
Burial will be in Morris Cemetery, West of LaPaz, on U.S. 6.
Memorial gifts may be made to the church, Marshall County Hospice or to a charity of the donor’s choice.