Pastor Bobby Lee Ponder

     Pastor Bobby Lee Ponder, 78, of Asheville, NC, passed away on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at his home. He was born on March 27, 1940 in Yancey County to the late Lee Ponder and Marguerite Shepherd Ponder. Bobby was a United States Air Force Veteran who served in the Korean Conflict. He was a pastor since 1964 and was the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Fairview for 25 years. He preached his last sermon to his Calvary Baptist congregation on Sunday, April 8th. He was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Austin and Dalton Ponder; and a sister, Edna Jean Ponder. Bobby is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elva Lorraine Ferguson Ponder; sons, Robert Ponder (Lisa) of Fairview, Brian Ponder (Jill) of Fairview and Jonathan Ponder (Darlene) of Asheville; daughter, Melissa Lane (Paul) of Swannanoa; and five grandchildren.
     A funeral service will be held at 7:00pm on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at Calvary Baptist Church in Fairview. The family will be receiving friends before the service from 5:30pm-7:00pm at the church. Officiating the service will be Rev. Robert Ponder. A private burial will be held at 10:00am that morning at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Mars Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either The Gideons International Processing Center-P.O. Box 97251 Washington, DC 20090 or to Calvary Baptist Church PO Box 86, Fairview, NC 28730. Penland Family Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Ponder family.

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