Franklin H. “Pat” Pond of Little Compton, RI, died on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Pat was born on March 17, 1925 in St. Louis, MO. He was the son of Walter Franklin Pond and Madeline Page Junkins Pond. He is survived by his daughter Debra Pond of Wethersfield, CT and his son Steven Pond of Little Compton and was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Barbara Jewell Pond.
When he was one year old, Pat’s family moved to Nashville, TN, where he spent his early years. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in mechanical engineering and served his country in the United States Navy during WWII.
Pat moved to Glastonbury, CT in 1957 to take a job with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft designing jet engines. He also worked on a project designing fuel cells for the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing. He was an active member of the Glastonbury community, including service on the zoning board and sewer commission.
Following his retirement, in 1985 Pat moved to Little Compton RI to the home that had been in his wife Barbara’s family since 1822. His years in Little Compton were the happiest of his life. He was active in many community organizations. He served as secretary of the Zoning Board of Review and co-chaired the Village Improvement Society’s building and grounds committee.
He was proudest of his involvement with the Little Compton Community Center. During the renovation of the old Grange Hall, he primed every board of trim on both sides to make sure they would last for many years. He spent countless hours volunteering at the Center, serving on its Board of Directors and doing pretty much anything that needed doing for the organization. In 2000, he was awarded the Spirit of Volunteerism Award for being “unselfishly dedicated to the good of the citizenry of Little Compton.”
Pat was an avid reader and was particularly fond of mystery and thriller fiction. He was delighted to get a notice from the Brownell Library that a new book was ready for him. He studied the art (and it is an art) of jonnycake making from his father-in-law Willard Jewell. Sunday morning jonnycakes was a family tradition for many years. Unsurprisingly, he always served himself last. Pat also spent many hours down the genealogy rabbit hole, following the histories of the Pond, Page, Junkins, Jewell and Brownell families. This kept him busy!
A celebration of Pat’s life will be held at a later date. Contributions in his name may be made to the Little Compton Community Center, Brownell Library, or the Little Compton Historical Society.