Byron F. Ponte

Byron Ponte, age 88, of Marion, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 5:10 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 surrounded by his family at Wesleyan Health Care Center, Marion, Indiana.

Byron was born September 15, 1929 in River Rouge, Michigan, the son of the late Ferdinand and Cora (Nieman) Ponte.  He married Shirley Carlson on September 30, 1950, and she survives.

Byron was an Army Veteran.  He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Wayne State University.  He worked in management at AT&T for 30 years and was a broker and the owner of Vaughan Realty in Frankfort, Michigan.

Byron was a member of the St. James Lutheran Church in Marion and had also been in various Lutheran church and community choirs for 65 years.  He was an avid tennis player and he and Shirley loved playing Bridge.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Ponte of Marion; son, Frederick Byron Ponte of Marion; two daughters, Jennifer (Robert) Heineman of Marion and Nancy (Mark) Heineman of Kalamazoo, Michigan; brother, Gerald (Sondra) Ponte of Taylor, Michigan; sister-in-law, Doris Ponte of South Lyon, Michigan; grandchildren, Laura (Rev. Matthew) Aspinall of Buffalo, Wyoming, Eric (Melissa) Heineman of Greenville, S. Carolina, Lindsey Heineman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Emily Heineman of Marion and Benjamin Heineman of Marion; and three great-grandchildren, Tirzah, Elizabeth and Evelyn Aspinall.

He was also preceded in death by a brother, Morley Ponte.

Friends and family may call from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on Monday, December 4, 2017 at St. James Lutheran Church, 1206 N. Miller Avenue, Marion, Indiana.  Funeral Services will follow at noon with Pastor William Lahrman officiating.

Arrangements entrusted to Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 Kem Road, Marion, Indiana.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana, 50 East 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240.

Online condolences may be made at www.ravenchoate.com