Billy Thomas Ponsell

1946-2016

Billy Thomas Ponsell, 70, of Brunswick, Georgia, passed away Monday Dec. 19, 2016 at his residence, while under the care of Hospice of the Golden Isles. 

Billy was born June 3, 1946, in Brunswick, the son of the late John Thomas and Marjorie Wommack Ponsell. Billy moved to Danville, Kentucky at the age of 10. He graduated from Danville High School.

His father died at age 38, so Billy was hardship deferred from military service to help take care of his family. In 1966, he moved with his mother and siblings back to Brunswick to be near family. From 1968 to 1971, he served in the Army in the U.S. and Germany.

On Dec. 19, 1970, Billy married Brigitte Ottinger-Krueger in Gersfeld Rhoen Kreis Fulda Germany. 

Billy worked in the HVAC/refrigeration field for 22 years with The Cloistet of Sea Island, and went in to business in 1982, as owner of Ponsell Heating, AC & Refrigeration, Inc. Tommy Ponsell joined the company in 1988 and has been managing the company for years.

Billy enjoyed fishing, fishing and fishing. He loved to cook and watch TV. He was of the Baptist faith.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Jane Sterno, Connie Reynolds and Shirley Georgoudis; and his brother Terry Ponsell. 

Survivors include his wife Brigitte Ottinger Ponsell of Brunswick; his son Tommy Ponsell (Holly) of Brunswick, and their children, Zachary (who kept Pops company many times), Whitney, and Thomas; step-son Donny Krueger (Sandra) of Bad Soden, Germany; sister Heiderose Mueller (Hans) of Stuttgart, Germany); nephew Andreas Mueller (Heidi) and children Jenny and Sascha of Stuttgart Germany; brother-in-law Norbert Ottinger (Karin) and children Yvonne, Bianca, Tobias and Simone of Frankfurt Germany; sister-in-law Janet Ponsell of Brunswick, Georgia; special cousin and travel buddy Bobby Morris who was always by his side. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, cousins, uncles, aunts and other relatives and friends. (His sister and nephew were able to visit Billy for two weeks recently from Germany.)

The family would like to thank the Hospice of the Golden Isles staff including Claryce, Miriam, Christel, Patty Crosby and Dexter (therapy dog) for their visits.

A Celebration of Life will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, in the chapel of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home with Rev. Jay Hanson officiating with a reception in the Brunswick and McIntosh Room to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions to Hospice of the Golden Isles, 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, GA, 31525 

Arrangements are entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home www.edomillerandsons.com