Lawrence (Larry) Pontier, 84, of Fruitland Park died Friday, March 20 at Clare Bridge in Leesburg. He was born on July 17, 1930, in Aba, Belgian Congo, the third son of Bill and Marty Pontier. He married Helen Clifton on July 30, 1954 in Fort Worth. He grew up in Belgian Congo where his parents were missionaries. He came to the US when he was 15 and completed his high school education at Dubose Academy in Zellwood, FL. He studied mechanical engineering at John Brown University and served for 2 years in the US Army. He returned to Congo in 1960 where he served as a missionary until 1969. He moved to Central Florida in 1970. He was a math/science teacher in Groveland, FL and then became a real estate agent. He was active in the Gideons and member of Tri County Baptist Church in The Villages.
He is survived by four daughters Marilyn (Larry) Uehle of Dongola, IL; Marsha (Mike) Young of Wildwood, FL; Brenda (David) Aderholdt of Macedonia and Jan (Bill) Barron of Eagle River, AK; thirteen grandchildren Stephen Uehle, Ruth (Simon) Potinu, Heidi (Tim) Storey, Sarah (Eric) Price, William Barron, Jake Aderholdt, Kimberly Young, David Barron, Jonathan Uehle, Helen Aderholdt, Shannon Young, Jason Young, and Wesley Young; one great-granddaughter Josie Storey; two sisters-in-law Betty Pontier and Ruth Landers as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Helen Pontier, his parents, three brothers Paul Pontier, Ray Pontier, and Don Pontier; one sister-in-law Doris Scott; two brothers-in-law John Landers and Bob Scott and a granddaughter Allison Uehle. He loved his Savior and his family.
Visitation will be held at Beyers Funeral Home, Lady Lake at 10 am Thursday, March 26 with the funeral service following at 11:00 AM. Pastor Steve Poludniak will be officiating. Interment will follow at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. To honor him memorials may be made to The Gideons International, Leesburg Camp of the Gideons, PO Box 491534, Leesburg, FL 34749-1534.
