Joan Ponder was born and raised in Flatonia Texas on July 21, 1935. She was the 7th child out of nine children born to Dan and Lutishie Sutton. In her sophomore year of high school, she moved to California, living with family. She finished high school in San Francisco. It was there that she met and married Joseph W. Ponder, Sr., who was in the military at that time. As part of the military, they traveled overseas to such place as the Philippines and France. During this time Joan and Joe began growing their family. Following the military, they settled in Riverside, California in 1960.

While in Riverside, California, Joan and her husband, Joe finished growing their family with six children: five girls and one boy. Joan relished being a mother and was always thankful to God for her blessings. In her first episode of major illness, she prayed to God to let her live long enough to raise her children. God answered her prayers.

In addition to raising a family and working full-time while in California, she enrolled in a community college and majored in accounting—she loved working with numbers. She later enrolled in a vocational school, majoring in dry cleaning business management, which resulted in owning and managing a dry cleaning business in Riverside. Then in 1972, due to a job opportunity for her husband, the Ponder family moved to Colorado. She worked for Colorado University Hospital for twenty years and even took on part-time jobs to help supplement family needs.

Once in Colorado, Joan attended and became a member of Denver Park Hill SDA Church, which lasted more than 40 years. She has served in many key positions in the Church but was most satisfied in her last role as Head Deaconess under three different Pastors. She also served on the Treasury Committee, Senior Ministry, Senior Church Choir, and Social Committee, and supported various activities and functions at the church and in the community. Through prayer and fellowship, she demonstrated her love and faith in the Lord; modeled Jesus Christ by her words, actions and deeds; and, remained faithful to God, her convictions, and the principles of the SDA Church, until her passing.

Joan was best when engaged in relationships with others, as she was a good listener, giving and loyal, kind and loving, patience and thoughtful. She would do things for others because she could, never because she expected something in return. Joan was a people-person who loved to laugh and often expressed her sense of humor. Most people don’t know that she could mimic another’s voice with precision, which often left everyone laughing. Joan enjoyed doing things with and for her family and, for the church. Family holiday meals, birthdays, and other celebrations were made special when “Mom” was there, along with her sweet potato pies and peach cobblers. And she loved church services and the singing as well as fellowshipping with church members, and sharing the message of Jesus. She was a blessing to many.

Joan leaves to cherish her memory her children Sharon Ponder, Debra L. Ponder, Phyllis A. Ponder, Kathy (Odell) Stroud, Joseph W. Ponder, and Denise (Bobby) Ponder-Brisco. She was a loving grandmother to Amber (Brian) Moody, Bryson Stroud, and Phylicia D. Ponder. Out of nine siblings she is survived by Eliza Johnson, Easter C. Robinson, Shirley White, and Buck Black. Both her parents and husband, Joseph, preceded her in death.

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