Biography

Funeral services for Joe Ben Ponder will be at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012 in Craddock Memorial Chapel. Rev. Leonard Ezell will officiate. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Joe Ben was born in Ardmore on March 6, 1927 to J. B. and Elsie Medlock Ponder. He departed this life on Feb. 27, 2012 in Ardmore.

A life long resident of Ardmore he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving in Guam. He came home from the navy and married his high school sweetheart, Frances Clemens on Jan. 15, 1950. She preceded him in death on Feb. 3, 2011. Together they opened the first drive-in-restaurant in Ardmore located on Lake Murray Drive. Later they built a new Super Dog drive-in on Commerce Street. In 1973 they built “Ponders Restaurant” located near I 35. It was operated by the Ponder family until 2010. Joe Ben was a family man and always enjoyed his family whether at work in the restaurant, at home or at play. He was a member of the Oklahoma Restaurant Assoc. and the Arbuckle Stock Club. He was of the Baptist faith.

He is survived by his daughter, Pat Ponder, Ardmore, a sister, Marcella Sullivan, Oklahoma City, brother-in-law, Edwin Clemens, Ardmore and a long time family friend, Kelly Doss. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Frances and a son, Paul Ponder.

Pall Bearers will be Charles Stringer, Bill Stringer, Gary Dillard, Guy Bacon, Gary Jackson, Sam Hendrix, Roger Talley and George Haas.

Memorials may be made to the Northwest Baptist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.craddockfuneralhome.com