Joseph Wendell Ponder, 94, a retired farmer from Hammond, died at 6:43 AM Friday, October 8, 2010 at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Private family graveside services will be held Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010 at Hammond Cemetery, Hammond, with Rev. Linda Peyla officiating. Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 66 E US Highway 36, Atwood, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mr. Ponder was born November 21, 1915 in Mattoon, the son of Ray B. and Minnie L. Goetz Ponder. He married Virginia Campbell in Champaign on October 31, 1941.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Virginia Ponder of Hammond; son, Gregg Campbell Ponder and wife Ali of Hammond; daughter, Sharon Jo Ponder Holbrook and husband, W. Dennis of Virginia Beach, Virginia; granddaughter, Elizabeth Holbrook Fox and husband Tim of Lodi, California; grandsons, Robert D. Holbrook of Victor, Idaho, and Paul Ponder of Champaign; great granddaughter, Tessa Virginia Fox; cousin, Jon Ponder and wife Jacque of Littleton, Colorado; sister-in-law, Katana Ponder of Hammond; one niece and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Harold R. Ponder.
Mr. Ponder graduated from Champaign High School in 1933 and from the University of Illinois in 1937 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, Scabbard & Blade Military Society, and 6th Corps Area Rifle Team.
After working as an accountant for four years, he enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Camp Davis in North Carolina. Following the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Joseph transferred to a gun battery on Kauai, Hawaii. Upon his return to the states, he was assigned as gunnery officer in Camp Haan, California. Mr. Ponder's last assignment before the end of World War II, was on the island of Saipan in the Pacific Theater where he was the Plans and Training Officer on the General's Staff of the 59th AA Brigade. Part of his duties included meeting with Navy and Air Force Liaison personnel to determine the direction of the search lights that guided American aircraft as they returned to their base on a nearby island in early dawn hours. In 1946, he was discharged from the army with rank of Major.
Mr. Ponder made many contributions to the town of Hammond where he served on the Village Board as trustee for 15 years; the Atwood-Hammond School Board for 9 years; Hammond Mutual Drainage Commissioner; and was the Unity Township Auditor for 10 years. In addition, he was a director and vice-president of the State Bank of Hammond from 1963-1984. He also served Piatt County in several capacities as a member of the Unity Township Board, Piatt County Zoning Board of Appeals, Regional Planning Commission, and the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service. He served as the Republican Committeeman for 12 years and on the Parkland Junior College Steering Committee and was a member of the American Legion Post 0770, Atwood.
Memorials are suggested to the Village of Hammond, for the town and its people whom he loved, in care of the First State Bank, 200 S. Don Ryan, Hammond, IL 61929.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hilligossshraderfh.com.