Otis Dean "Boe" Ponds was born to O.D. and Ruby Ponds on January 11, 1931, in Haynes, Oklahoma. Although at the age of 11 years he lost both biological parents, the Guardian Angel above immediately replaced them, placing him and his siblings in the care of his maternal aunt and her husband, Velma and Ernest "Bubba" Washington.
Velma insisted that all her children have a religious upbringing, and required regular church attendance. Boe united with the First Baptist Church of Tullahassee, Oklahoma and was baptized at an early age. Six years ago, he united with St. Mark United Methodist Church of Wichita, under the pastorage of the Reverend Tyrone D. Gordon.
Boe graduated from Carter G. Woodson High School in Tullahassee, where he excelled in athletics. Known for his speed and scoring abilities, Boe was a vital player on basketball and baseball teams that won several state championships.
After graduation, Boe relocated to Wichita. he was employed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad for two years before being called into active military duty. he returned to Wichita after receiving an honorable discharge from the United States Army.
Boe married Cletha Cravens in 1976, a union which continued until his homegoing on February 11, 1995 at 9:45 AM. Although Boe became ill only four years after their marriage and had been completely disabled since 1990, Cletha remained devoted to her husband. She worked tirelessly caring for him in their home, while maintaining both her job and church activities. She was at Boe's bedside when he took his last breath.
In addition to his beloved wife, Boe is survived by: one son, Anthony of Galveston, Texas; daughters, Ruby and Audry, both of Wichita; brothers and sisters-in-law, Q. D. and LaFrances of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Perry and Mildred of Upland, California; sisters, Delores "Katy" Gay and Ella Johnson, both of Tulsa, and Ernestine Ford of Saginaw, Michigan; one uncle, Isaac of Wichita; aunts, Bernice Moore and Alice Wallace, both of Tulsa, Margaret Donel of Chicago, Illinois and Addie Hickman of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
(Obit from the Funeral Program of Otis Dean Ponds)
Velma insisted that all her children have a religious upbringing, and required regular church attendance. Boe united with the First Baptist Church of Tullahassee, Oklahoma and was baptized at an early age. Six years ago, he united with St. Mark United Methodist Church of Wichita, under the pastorage of the Reverend Tyrone D. Gordon.
Boe graduated from Carter G. Woodson High School in Tullahassee, where he excelled in athletics. Known for his speed and scoring abilities, Boe was a vital player on basketball and baseball teams that won several state championships.
After graduation, Boe relocated to Wichita. he was employed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad for two years before being called into active military duty. he returned to Wichita after receiving an honorable discharge from the United States Army.
Boe married Cletha Cravens in 1976, a union which continued until his homegoing on February 11, 1995 at 9:45 AM. Although Boe became ill only four years after their marriage and had been completely disabled since 1990, Cletha remained devoted to her husband. She worked tirelessly caring for him in their home, while maintaining both her job and church activities. She was at Boe's bedside when he took his last breath.
In addition to his beloved wife, Boe is survived by: one son, Anthony of Galveston, Texas; daughters, Ruby and Audry, both of Wichita; brothers and sisters-in-law, Q. D. and LaFrances of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Perry and Mildred of Upland, California; sisters, Delores "Katy" Gay and Ella Johnson, both of Tulsa, and Ernestine Ford of Saginaw, Michigan; one uncle, Isaac of Wichita; aunts, Bernice Moore and Alice Wallace, both of Tulsa, Margaret Donel of Chicago, Illinois and Addie Hickman of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
(Obit from the Funeral Program of Otis Dean Ponds)
Otis Dean "Boe" Ponds was born to O.D. and Ruby Ponds on January 11, 1931, in Haynes, Oklahoma. Although at the age of 11 years he lost both biological parents, the Guardian Angel above immediately replaced them, placing him and his siblings in the care of his maternal aunt and her husband, Velma and Ernest "Bubba" Washington.
Velma insisted that all her children have a religious upbringing, and required regular church attendance. Boe united with the First Baptist Church of Tullahassee, Oklahoma and was baptized at an early age. Six years ago, he united with St. Mark United Methodist Church of Wichita, under the pastorage of the Reverend Tyrone D. Gordon.
Boe graduated from Carter G. Woodson High School in Tullahassee, where he excelled in athletics. Known for his speed and scoring abilities, Boe was a vital player on basketball and baseball teams that won several state championships.
After graduation, Boe relocated to Wichita. he was employed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad for two years before being called into active military duty. he returned to Wichita after receiving an honorable discharge from the United States Army.
Boe married Cletha Cravens in 1976, a union which continued until his homegoing on February 11, 1995 at 9:45 AM. Although Boe became ill only four years after their marriage and had been completely disabled since 1990, Cletha remained devoted to her husband. She worked tirelessly caring for him in their home, while maintaining both her job and church activities. She was at Boe's bedside when he took his last breath.
In addition to his beloved wife, Boe is survived by: one son, Anthony of Galveston, Texas; daughters, Ruby and Audry, both of Wichita; brothers and sisters-in-law, Q. D. and LaFrances of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Perry and Mildred of Upland, California; sisters, Delores "Katy" Gay and Ella Johnson, both of Tulsa, and Ernestine Ford of Saginaw, Michigan; one uncle, Isaac of Wichita; aunts, Bernice Moore and Alice Wallace, both of Tulsa, Margaret Donel of Chicago, Illinois and Addie Hickman of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
(Obit from the Funeral Program of Otis Dean Ponds)
Velma insisted that all her children have a religious upbringing, and required regular church attendance. Boe united with the First Baptist Church of Tullahassee, Oklahoma and was baptized at an early age. Six years ago, he united with St. Mark United Methodist Church of Wichita, under the pastorage of the Reverend Tyrone D. Gordon.
Boe graduated from Carter G. Woodson High School in Tullahassee, where he excelled in athletics. Known for his speed and scoring abilities, Boe was a vital player on basketball and baseball teams that won several state championships.
After graduation, Boe relocated to Wichita. he was employed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad for two years before being called into active military duty. he returned to Wichita after receiving an honorable discharge from the United States Army.
Boe married Cletha Cravens in 1976, a union which continued until his homegoing on February 11, 1995 at 9:45 AM. Although Boe became ill only four years after their marriage and had been completely disabled since 1990, Cletha remained devoted to her husband. She worked tirelessly caring for him in their home, while maintaining both her job and church activities. She was at Boe's bedside when he took his last breath.
In addition to his beloved wife, Boe is survived by: one son, Anthony of Galveston, Texas; daughters, Ruby and Audry, both of Wichita; brothers and sisters-in-law, Q. D. and LaFrances of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Perry and Mildred of Upland, California; sisters, Delores "Katy" Gay and Ella Johnson, both of Tulsa, and Ernestine Ford of Saginaw, Michigan; one uncle, Isaac of Wichita; aunts, Bernice Moore and Alice Wallace, both of Tulsa, Margaret Donel of Chicago, Illinois and Addie Hickman of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
(Obit from the Funeral Program of Otis Dean Ponds)
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