Jim C. Ponder's Obituary
James (Jim) Ponder passed away quietly in his home comforted by his wife Marsha Ponder, in Checotah, at 12 p.m. on December 30, 2015 after battling ALS. He was born August 5, 1957 to Reuben and Barbara (Foster) Ponder in Mobile, Al.. His family moved to Oklahoma where Jim and his sisters Amy and Lori attended school at first Blackgum then Porum, Ok. He went to Connors State College for Music & Electronics. He was a guitarist for New Horizon who proudly opened for the Oak Ridge Boys in Muskogee in 1976. In 1979, he met and fell in love with Marsha Cupps (Masingale) at Sir Thomas Disco in Eufaula. Marsha and her two sons Ricky & Robby accepted Jim into their home and their lives, and in 1980 Jim and Marsha were married (34 years). Jim worked for D.P. Winch Mfg. in Eufaula for 32 years. He was also in a couple of bands: Crossfire and Street Legal where Jim made Marsha a roadie (running lights and sound board and how to roll cords, very important!) James is proceeded in death by his Mother Barbara Ponder; Step-Mother Lola Ponder; survived by wife Marsha Ponder, stepson Ricky Cupps, Cindy (wife), grandson Brandon, granddaughter Mallory Blake, granddaughters Maegan and Gabrielle Cupps, stepson Robby Cupps, grandson Gage Bollin, his Father Rueben Ponder, sisters Lori Nichols, Ron (husband) and Amy Sirmans, James (husband), niece Jamy Wilens, Bram (husband), (great niece) Isibelle, and niece Amber Sirman, Charlie Maxwell (fiancé). He will be greatly missed by his family, Marsha’s family, the Masingales, and friends! A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 2nd, 2016, from 10 to 11am at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel 6500 South 129th East Ave., Broken Arrow, Ok., 74012 (918-252-2518). Alecia Campbell, Mary Gregg and Joy Haywood (Marsha’s sisters) will be the officiators.
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