On September 24, Jimmy Clayton Pond took his first steps in Heaven. He passed with his family by his side at 12:40 pm at Harris Hospital Fort Worth.

Jim suffered for years from COPD (“Crazy Old People’s Disease” - as Jim said) and Congestive Heart Failure but is no longer in pain.

Jim is survived by his wife Barbara Kaska Pond, two children: Melissa Pond Brown and (husband) Gary, and Robert Pond, four grandchildren: Marlana and (husband) Bud, Thomas, Cortni and (husband) James, and Corban, and six great-grandchildren: Trystan, Payton, Layla, Miley, Saige, and Lennon. He is preceded in death by his parents: Clayton and Mary Pond, brothers: Johnny and Jerry, and daughter-in-law: Beverly Pond.

He was born on April 22, 1941, in Gainesville, TX to parents, Clayton and Mary Pond. He was a proud Brewer High School graduate from the class of 1960. He first met Barbara Kaska at an Odd Fellow and Rebecca Thanksgiving Dinner where their mothers both served. At the time, he worked at A L Davis Grocery Store in White Settlement. Later, he took a position at Owens and Brumley Funeral Home where he drove the ambulance. He asked Barbara to marry him, not one, but three times. When she finally agreed, they moved to River Oaks, TX. Jim and Barbara had two children; Melissa and Robert. He began working at Parker-Hannifin/Stratoflex as a machinist where he retired after 31 years of service.

Jim was a great family man and a loving father, a fun-loving PawPaw, a supportive uncle, and treated everyone that knew him just like family. He’d eat anything the kids made for him, would let them dress him up and even put makeup on him, let everyone try to run around in his size 19 shoes for sport at family reunions, and would always be calling someone “shorty”.

Jim’s life was dedicated to serving others. He coached soccer, baseball, and football, would fish and hunt with everyone that would join him, and eventually, he found his second love; Operation Orphans. Jim always said how the kids he watched grow up over the years were his “paychecks” for his years of service.

He enjoyed antique shopping with Barbara, loved fishing in tournaments, any kind of hunting, and breakfast every Saturday with his former Brewer graduates. His family and friends will always remember him as a kind-hearted and fun-loving individual. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those that knew him.

Visitation will be Monday, October 4th from 6-8 pm.

His “final going away party” (as Jim referred to it) is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5th at 2:30 pm at Greenwood Memorial Funeral Home. Brother John Reynolds will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jim’s legacy.

The family would like to thank Katie for caring for PawPaw while he was in the hospital.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Operation Orphans.

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