He was born on Sept. 23, 1935, in Elkhart to the late Donald E. and Norma (Neal) Pontius Sr. On Aug. 25, 1958, he married the former Janet Grant in Elkhart.

Surviving are his wife, Janet Grant Pontius of Osceola; his son, B. Scott (Becky) Pontius of Mishawaka; grandchildren Sara Pontius of Osceola and Kevin Pontius of Mishawaka; and his two sisters, Shirley Mabie of Elkhart and Deborah (Michael) Wyman of Goshen.

Donald was preceded in death by his son, Grant E. Pontius, on March 4, 2004; and a sister, Patricia Pace.

Mr. Pontius was an electronic technician for Bendix Corp. working in Mishawaka and then South Bend, retiring in 1994. He was a graduate of Elkhart High School and attended the DeVry Institute in Chicago. He attended, with his wife, the Gospel Center Missionary Church in South Bend. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 until his honorable discharge in 1958; he then served in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1961.

Donald was an avid fisherman, enjoyed playing golf and doing crossword puzzles, and liked to listen to jazz music. He was a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan.

A service to celebrate his life will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 13, 2008, at the Gospel Center Missionary Church located at 930 S. 30th St. in South Bend. Pastor Charles Husted and the Rev. Momcilo Vincic will officiate. A meal will follow the service. At his request cremation has taken place with Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, in charge of arrangements.

To share a memory of Donald or send a condolence to the family please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

The family requests that memorials please be directed to either the American Stroke Association National Center, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231 or DSRTF (Down Syndrome Research & Treatment Foundation), 755 Page Mill Road, Suite A-200, Palo Alto, CA 94304.