Gerald Pond, 74, of Potosi, Mo., died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. He was born March 12, 1937 in Mobile, Ala., the son of Harry “Donald” and Mary heath (Lie) Pond. His parents lived in Santa Barbara, Calif., for nine years before the family moved to Fairhope. Gerald was a proud graduate of McGill Institute of Mobile. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1954, serving as a hospital corpsman. After finishing his tour of naval duty, Gerald enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, serving as an electronics technician. He was married to Peggy (Kuenzle) of Lesterville, Mo., on Aug. 2, 1965 in Fairhope. He began his family while he was stationed at the NATO Base at Keflavik, Iceland, where the two elder daughters were born. Returning to Mobile, he was a warrant officer and spent a year aboard the USCGC Sebago, based in Pensacola, Fla. Stationed at the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, he was honorably discharged in 1972. Books were always a part of his life, and Gerald loved to write, compile, to work with computers and program them. He contributed to two Gulf Coast Newspapers: The Fairhope Courier and The Independent, and wrote a weekly column titled “Splashes from the Pond.” In 2006, Gerald and his wife moved to Potosi to be closer to family members living there. He was a life-time member of the Disabled American Veterans, Military Officers Association of America and the American Legion Post 265 of Potosi. At St. James Church, he was a daily Mass attendant and a Lector at Mass. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Peggy Pond of the home; three daughters, Laura (Ross) Dillard, of St. Louis; Anna (Barry) Falkner, of Montevallo, Ala.; and Elizabeth Williams and special friend, Rick, of Potosi; a half-brother, Fr. Garth Hallett S.J. Of St. Louis University in St. Louis; his mother-in-law, Merle Kuenzle of Greenville, Mo.; and four grandchildren: Dakoda, Reno, Rhiannon and Ariana. He was preceded in death by his parents and a half-brother, Arne Hallett. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday, Feb. 29 at St. James Catholic Church, Potosi. Interment was a Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis County. Arrangements by Moore Funeral Home, Potosi.
