Ronald L. Pontier

Ronald Lee (Ron) Pontier, 68, was born July 9, 1953, in Siloam Springs, AR, and died April 13, 2022, in Beloit, KS. He was raised in Central Africa by his missionary parents, Ray and Betty Pontier. After finishing up an engineering degree and aviation maintenance training, he met Donna (whom he later married) at Bible college, and got his pilot's training. He returned to Africa as a missionary pilot with AIM AIR, the aviation wing of Africa Inland Mission, and flew all over East and Central Africa for 30 years. When he stopped flying he built housing for missionaries in remote areas.

Throughout his life Ron captivated people with his stories, fixed their broken solar panels, motorcycles and cars, was passionate about encouraging the African church in war-torn places, and because of the high value he put on connecting with the local people, picked up seven or eight foreign languages. Though he flew long hours he was an amazing husband and father. His faith was central, and every morning you would find him with his morning coffee, reading his Bible and praying.

While working in South Sudan he became ill and was diagnosed with cancer in September 2020, and came to Beloit, where two of his daughters had recently moved. There you could find him out walking to stay as strong as possible to fight the cancer as hard as he could. If you talked to him you would notice and hear about the hope he had in Christ and the assurance he had that if he didn't survive the cancer he would be called home to Heaven, which would be incredible.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Betty Pontier and sister, Martha Pontier. He is survived by the loves of his life, his wife Donna and children Amanda (Andries) Horn (Beloit), Andrea (Ohilang, South Sudan), Benjamin (Nairobi, Kenya), and Brianna (Beloit); and siblings Jeannie (David) Morse, Jim (Melodie) Pontier and Carol (James) Allen.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Saturday, April 23 at the Beloit First Christian Church. Visitation will be on Friday, April 22 from 1-7 PM with family present from 4-7 PM at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. The casket will remain closed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to AimAir.

If you would like to give something in memory of Ron, you may donate to the work of AIM AIR, the aviation ministry that Ron served in and loved.

Giving online: https://usgiving.aimint.org/project/aim-air-operations . In the Comments to the finance office section write, "In memory of Ron Pontier."

If you prefer to give by check, please make your check payable to "Africa Inland Mission". [When we mail the checks in we will designate the gifts for "AIM AIR Operations Fund in memory of Ron Pontier."]