James Howard Pontius

James Howard “Too Tall” Pontius, 81, of Van Wert, died at 12:01 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

He was born July 3, 1930, in Jackson, Mich., the son of the late William and Dorothy (Scott) Pontius. He married Jean (Goodwin) Pontius, who survives in Van Wert.

Other survivors include three children, Ginger (Brent) Heyneman of Strongsville, James E. (Shelley) Pontius of Dublin and Tamre (Michael) Hileman of Rockford; a brother, William Pontius of Celina; one sister-in-law, Mary Lou Goodwin of Van Wert; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, May 14, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert, with the Rev. Paul W. Miller officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Rockford.

Calling hours are from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center, c/o Community Health Professionals, 1159 Westwood Drive, Van Wert, OH 45891.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.alspachgearhart.com.