Claretha E. Fontelroy

Claretha E. Fontelroy, 89, of Parsons, peacefully passed away at 12:45 a.m. Monday, September 26, 2022, at Labette Health.

Claretha Edwina Ponds was born on November 25, 1932, to Joseph and Willie Beatrice (Brewster) Ponds in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  As a young girl, she moved with her family to Parsons, where she grew up and attended Douglas School and continued her education at Parsons High School.

Claretha was employed by the Labette County Health Department prior to her employment with the Parsons Police Department.  For 30 years, she served as a Public Safety/Emergency Medical dispatcher and obtained various certifications from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) before retiring in 2002.  After retirement, she volunteered at the Parsons Foodbank and St. Vincent de Paul Society Thrift Store.  She was recognized by Labette Health as volunteer of the year for her service as a "Pink Lady".  Claretha loved helping people and was loved by many who affectionately called her mom.

Claretha accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at a very early age and was very active in church.  She supported her husband's efforts when he started his official ministry in 1976.  She held various titles, including First Lady of Saints Memorial COGIC (Galena), Church Mother of Pleas Temple COGIC (Independence), and member of Pleas Chapel/Watson Memorial COGIC (Parsons).

Her greatest joy was relaxing on her front porch in the sun, shopping, collecting church hats, traveling and most of all spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Claretha and Walter H. Fontelroy, Sr. were united in marriage for over 50 years and were blessed with 15 children.

Survivors include:

Five sons – Ronald E. Fontelroy of Houston, Texas

Dennis Fontelroy (Tietha) of Wichita, Kansas

Albert "Joe" Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas

Mark A. Fontelroy (Carol) of Gulf Port, Mississippi

David Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas

Five daughters – Retha Davis (Gary) of Pomona, California

Michelle Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas

Evangeline Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas

Beatrice Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas

Christine Fontelroy-Hill (Edwin) of Joplin, Missouri

Twenty-six grandchildren

Thirteen great-grandchildren

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter H. Fontelroy, Sr. on January 7, 2000; five sons, Walter Jr. on February 23, 2010; Carl on October 1, 2011; Thara on January 12, 2022; and infants Phares and Michael; two brothers and four sisters.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at Watson Memorial Church of God in Christ.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.  The family will receive friends 5 – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.