Sam J. Ponder

 Sam J, Ponder, 86, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2020 in Pennsylvania.  Sam was a son of Wyoming and long-time resident of California.

Sam enjoyed family, fishing, camping, driving, golf, and dancing. It was at a dance that he met Tinka Hardison, whom he married in 1967 in San Marino, CA.  He was an early innovator in the art of “Dad Jokes”

A virtual memorial service will be held Saturday, May 23rd, in conjunction with the First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino.  Details may be obtained by emailing SamPonderMemorial@gmail.com

Born Aug 26,1933 in Torrington, Wyoming to Olice and Walter Ponder, he is preceded in death by his parents as well as his sister, Lucille, and two brothers, Robert and Willburn.

Sam attended the University of Wyoming, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Development of the California Aqueduct led himto California, where he worked as a surveyor for the Department of Water Resources and later as an engineer for the California Department of Transportation, from which he retired

Sam is survived by his wife, Tinka; his daughter, Gwen and her two children, his granddaughters, Elena and Autumn; his son Stuart, and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sam’s name to the First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino or the National Park Foundation.