John Daniel Pontius

Life is a trail of breadcrumbs that define you. My trail began in the small rural town of Hartville, OH in 1951. The oldest of five children to Lorin and Janice Pontius. My family has lived in the community since 1800. I graduated from high school in 1969. Spending the summer in Sao Paulo, Brazil proved a life changing experience. At 13, I began working in family tool & die shop when not in school. After 10 years, and going part time to college I decided there was a future more exciting to explore.

I graduated from the University of Akron, OH in 1976. After a year of graduate work, I was commissioned in the Air Force in 1977. My first assignment was at Grand Forks AFB, ND as a missile launch officer. There I met the love of my life, Susan MacKay, from Winnipeg, Canada. We married in 1980. Assignments included: Vandenberg AFB, CA, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and McChord AFB, WA. I left the Air Force in 1989. I’ve also served as: President of Elmendorf AFB Community School, Christian school administrator, and homeschool consultant.

In 2016, we retired and bought a ranch with our oldest son and family near Mena, AR. We raise Scottish Highland cattle, Royal White sheep and Kiko goats. With four children and sixteen grandchildren, I became an experienced bedtime story weaver. I also enjoy: writing, gardening, reading, and Pepper, my Australian Shepherd.