Fontelle J. “Mickey” Ponzoha, 86, died June 1, 2008, surrounded by her family at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, from complications from a stroke.
She was born April 10, 1922 in Raymond Wash., the third child of four born to Gordon and Delma King. It was her father, the superintendent of Willapa Harbor Lumber Company, who started calling her “my little Mick” because of her red hair. In those days “Mick” was the slang word for Irish.
Her childhood friends called her Mickey. And everyone who knew and loved her has called her that since.
After graduating from Raymond High School, she attended Bellingham Normal for a year before marrying Joseph Ponzoha on June 18, 1942.
While her husband was in the service during World War II, Mrs. Ponzoha was a “Rosie the Riveter” at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle.
At the end of war, the couple moved to Oregon and have lived in Sweet Home since 1947.
Mrs. Ponzoha was an energetic and loving mother and homemaker. When the youngest of her seven children entered grammar school, she worked as a librarian for the Sweet Home School District until she retired. She loved to sew and arrange flowers. She was an active member of St. Helen’s Catholic Women’s Society and a community volunteer until her stroke in 2006.
The Ponzohas celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last June.
She is survived by her husband, Joseph Ponzoha; her children, Greg, Marci, Russell, Tim, Theresa, Cathy and Matt; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Gordon King; and her sister, Kay Regan.
A funeral Mass was held June 7 at St. Helen Catholic Church in Sweet Home. Final burial was at Gilliland Cemetery.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.