Furman Howard “Peanut” Ponder, 96, of 315 Jackson Street, husband of Wilma Wilson Ponder, died Saturday, January 19, 2019 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Walter Furman Ponder and Minnie Cooper Jackson. Peanut was a US Navy veteran of World War II and retired as a supervisor from Greenwood Mills.
He was a loyal employee of Harley Funeral Home and Crematory for 57 years, where he greeted everyone who came in the back door with a friendly smile. Peanut loved anything that had to do with baseball. He played for many years in the Textile League, coached, umpired and loved watching the Atlanta Braves.
He was a collector of many things including baseball cards, Beanie Babies, currency, golfballs, scorecards and pencils from golf courses and newspaper clippings. He was a regular contributor to the Index-Journal’s pictorial column, “Remember When…”. Peanut was an avid golfer.
He was a former member of the Greenwood Country Club, a charter member of Star Fort Golf Club and his last membership was at Hunter’s Creek. After that, he traveled weekly with a senior group that played various courses and he made an eagle on the last round that he played with his son, Joe, at the age of 92. Peanut was a faithful member of West Side Baptist Church, where he was a member and past president of the Adult I Sunday School Class and the Best of the West Senior Group.
Surviving is his wife of 74 years, Wilma, of the home; his children, Brenda Ponder, Shirley White (Rudy) and Joe Ponder (Tina), all of Greenwood; seven grandchildren, Cary Ponder (Missy), Pam Hodges, Angie Ponder, Tara Allen (Jeremy), Leigh Lambert, Brandi Cornwell (Brandon) and Tara Calhoun (Zach); fourteen great grandchildren including Amanda Overstreet (Buddy) and Jesse Hodges and four great great grandchildren including Bentley and Addisyn Overstreet. He was preceded in death by brothers, Colie Jackson and Gaston L. Jackson. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at West Side Baptist Church with the Rev.
Kyle Richter officiating. Burial, with military rites, will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Cary Ponder, Zach Calhoun, Brandon Cornwell, Steve Hodges, Buddy Overstreet, Bentley Overstreet and Tony Kelley.
Honorary escort will be members of the Adult I Sunday School Class of West Side Baptist Church. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of MSA Hospice for their loving care, especially from Monica and Connie. The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to the Open Door, c/o West Side Baptist Church, PO Box 216, Greenwood, SC 29648. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Peanut Ponder please visit our Sympathy Store.
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