James Harold Ponder Sr., 85, died July 6, 2010.

He was born June 26, 1925 in Waleska to John Oscar and Gladys Cagle Ponder.

He was briefly enrolled in Reinhardt College before entering the U.S. Army in 1943. Mr. Ponder served with a Combat Eng. Battalion attached to Patton's 7th Army. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and other campaigns in the European Theater. After World War II he continued his education and graduated from North Georgia College in 1950.

Mr. Ponder worked as an electrical engineer for many years for both Philco and Lockheed GA Corp.

In the 1970s he began to develop property and build homes in Forsyth and Dawson counties.

He served for several years as chairman of the Forsyth County Planning Commission.

He was an Amateur Radio enthusiast for 60 years and a lifetime NRA member.

His wife of 61 years, Dorothy Cochran Ponder; infant daughter, Judy; and his sister and brother-in-law, Ruth Ponder Terry and Robert Terry, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, James H. Ponder Jr. and Penni Reynolds, John Dennis Ponder, all of Cumming, Patrick and Pam Murray Ponder of Gainesville; granddaughters and grandson-in-law, Jamie Lynn Ponder, Jennifer Ponder Rollins and David Rollins, all of Cumming; sisters and brother-in-law, Nell Ponder of Atlanta, Linda and Terry Ellington of McDonough; brother and sister-in-law, Troy and Jean Ponder of Huntsville, Ala.; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. July 8 at Ingram Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mike Schmid officiating. Interment followed in Sawnee View Memorial Gardens.

Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory of Cumming was in charge of the arrangements.