Glenn Pontius

Glenn “Ponch” “Bobby” Pontius went to be with the Lord at 7:57 p.m. Monday, April 14, 2014, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center after a long, hard fight with cancer.

He was born November 1, 1940, in Geneva, Ind., the son of the late Robert and Pauline (Yoss) Pontius. He is survived by his wife, Donna (Goodwin) Pontius, to whom he had been very happily married for 48 years.

Other survivors include a brother, Richard (Karen) Pontius of Van Wert; one sister, Sandra Leeth of Florida; a sister-in-law, Barbara Barrientos of Van Wert; and two close nephews, Matthew (Misty) and Paul Garfield Pontius.

Two brothers, David Karl and Paul Garfield Pontius, also preceded him in death.

Glenn was a retired employee of Aeroquip-Eaton Corporation, having been employed there for 44 years.

Glenn loved his family, friends and everyone he knew. He was a fun-loving man who enjoyed life, being around people and talking to them. He never saw a stranger and would do anything he could for you. Glenn was a hard-working man who liked to keep busy all of the time, whether working outside in his yard and garden, going coin hunting, swimming in his pool or doing woodworking, which he had learned from his grandfather, a master carpenter.

He especially loved watching NASCAR to see if any of his Ford drivers would win. He also would always take time when his wife would ask him to sit with her and watch “The Young and the Restless.” He loved all the dogs he had and his special cat, Boots. He liked the old gospel hymns played on the organ, plus County and Western songs and the “oldies” of the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies.

Glenn always said to “thank the Lord for every day you still have on this earth. Never take anything for granted. Never to go bed mad with your loved one ‘cause there may not be a tomorrow for you to be together.” Whenever anyone would ask how old he was, he would always say “older than dirt.”

Glenn would say that, “to survive, we need a few hugs per day. To sustain us, add laughter along the way. Then, to flourish, spread kindness in all we say.”

Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Paul W. Miller officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.

Calling hours are from 1 p.m. until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: To the family.

Online condolences may be left at www.bricknerfuneralhome.com or emailed to bricknerfuneralhome@bright.net.