Pond
Burritt "Holly" Hollister
Pond
September 9, 1922
May 28, 2022

Burritt Hollister "Holly" Pond, Colonel, USAF Retired, passed away on May 28, 2022 at home surrounded by his family. He is survived by his three daughters Susan Butler (Bob, deceased) of Colorado Springs, Judy Kudlow (Larry) of New York City and Carolyn Fisher (Duncan) of Colorado Springs and is fondly remembered by his 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Holly was born in Kalispell, MT on February 9, 1922 but he grew up in Whitefish, MT where he met and married his wife of 76 years, Cornelia Doris Pond who preceded him in death. After high school graduation he attended the University of Idaho for two years and later earned a BS Degree in Education from Montana State University and a MS Degree from the University of Montana.
In 1942 he joined the US Army Air Corp as an aviation cadet being commissioned as a 2nd Lt in 1943 and assigned as an instructor pilot. After WWII he remained in the reserves and was recalled to duty to fly C-119's in Korea in 1950. He continued to serve our nation in the US Air Force until 1974 when he retired as a Colonel. During his long, storied military career he piloted many aircraft but the longest time was in the C-130 Hercules. His duty stations included the Air Rescue Squadron at McCord AFB, WA, teaching ROTC at the University of Wisconsin, maintenance officer and pilot at Evreux Air Force Base in France, attending Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Director of Air Crew Training at TAC HQ Langley AFB, VA, Airlift Liaison to the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, military advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and Instructor and Director of Education Plans at the Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. For his outstanding military service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam War Service Medal and many other military decorations and awards.
After retiring to Colorado Springs in 1974, he pursued a wide variety of passions which included flying, building, woodworking, restoration and skiing. He owned several different airplanes for personal use and to give flying lessons. He built two homes in the Springs and one in the mountains to be close to the skiing. Along with two close friends, he restored a 1940's era Chris Craft wooden boat, a 1926 Chevrolet Touring Car and a Fairchild PT-19. His fine woodworking skills produced grandfather clocks, furniture, small segmented bowls, candlesticks, jewelry boxes and vases. Holly was truly a modern-day Renaissance man - analytical, well-educated, artistic, free thinker, self-taught, sociable, an entrepreneur, well-read, explorer, inventor, a gentleman and a humble man.
He will be laid to rest at Pikes Peak National Cemetery on Thursday, June 9th at 10:00 am. For additional information contact Swan Law Funeral Home, 719-471-9900.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Gazette on Jun. 5, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Burritt Pond

14 Entries

Michael Takacs

June 12, 2022

Best wishes and heartfelt sympathies to Colonel Pond's family and associates in this difficult time.

I learned of the Colonel's life, service, and career on the Kudlow show Friday, and appreciated the kind words of Larry and Governor/Secretary Perry. My dad was also a WW2 Vet, USA, a paratrooper in the First Special Service Forces. He trained in the Colonel's home state, in or near Helena, and later jumped in Italy, returning home safely. America's Greatest Generation for sure!

Like Larry said, "They Don't Make 'em like THAT anymore!"

RIP Colonel Pond, JOB WELL DONE!

Michael Takacs
Wilmington DE

Tom DiCola

June 11, 2022

So sorry to hear Judy, Larry & Family. Seems and sounds like a great man. And as you say Larry, we are really missing the direction that the Greatest Generation provided for us growing up!!
Very nice words Larry from you and also Rick Perry.
Rest in Peace Holly!!
Another member of "The Greatest Generation" has left us!!

Janis Viren

June 11, 2022

Judy, I know know you from some short phone conversations, but I was sad to hear of the loss of your father! What a great man! There just be a huge hole. I am praying that that wonderful memories keep coming and that that will be a comfort for your grief.

Janis Viren, Shining Mountain Chapter, NSDAR, Billings, Montana

Joanne Seitz

June 10, 2022

The greatest generation has lost another giant of a man. We will never forget our American Military heroes.

Kirk DeGroff

June 10, 2022

Larry, all my sympathies to you, Judy, and your family.

Zaya Gilana

June 10, 2022

I just watched Larry Kudlow's show and I learned about your loss.
Please, accept my sincere condolences.
I will cherish and appreciate the memory of your braveries and service with a grateful heart, dear Hollister.
I am originally from Tehran, Iran.
Thank you Mr. Pond, and the family for having defended and protected America all those years for people like me, to come here as a refugee immigrant 23 years ago.
Just wanted to let you know all that I love you and I am so grateful for what America has meant and done for me and for my family. Not everything has been good, but I just don't know where I would be without the privilege of living in this country. I will never take it for granted. I will ALWAYS defend my homeland, her Constitution, her values, and my inherited FREEDOMS.
No, they surely "almost" don´t make such heroes like you...
As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

Respectfully,
Zaya

Greg Anderson

June 10, 2022

Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts

Dave Maddlone

June 10, 2022

I heard of Col. Pond's passing, in a moving tribute by Larry Kudlow on Fox Business. I am so glad Larry mentioned Col. Pond as his father-in-law so I might read about this great man, and it was very clear Larry and many others have a deep sense of loss in Col. Pond's passing. It also very clear that Col. Pond was one of those rarely found today, sterling masculine expressions of God in devotion to family, service to country, and love of nation. These truly were great men who in their youth, re-lit the torch of liberty the world over in the face of the Axis evil which tried to extinguish it. Then these men and women came home and built a powerful protective nation with unprecedented generosity to the world. In times of such loss, words always fall short, and I think of President Lincoln also struggling to express condolences to a Mrs. Bixby of Boston, who had lost five sons to Civil War battles. In part he wrote,

Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
"...I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which would attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. ...I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost,"

My words are likewise weak and fruitless, but I also pray that our Heavenly Father will leave you with precious memories of the loved and lost.

Most respectfully,
Dave

Don Peters USMC 68-70

June 10, 2022

Heard of Colonel Pond´s passing on Kudlow, Rest In Peace! Another member of "The Greatest Generation " gone, he will join my Dad USN WWll. Deeps sympathy to the family,

Wanda L. Icenhower

June 10, 2022

Most sincere sympathy to the family. Honored thanks for service to The United States of America & a life well lived.

Joy Ann Robinson and Charlie Brown

June 10, 2022

Larry, we listen to you on TV, and just heard your lovely tribute to your dear father-in-law. He was a hero, not only for our country, but to his family. We are so sorry for your loss and pray that you and your wife will find comfort remembering the sweet times you spent together.

Liliana Andrej

June 8, 2022

I used to care for Holly and Doris and they never left my heart! Holly shared wonderful stories and wood work with me over the time I spent with him and was always so kind. He will be missed very much! Much love and prayer to all the family! God bless.

Stan Abrams

June 6, 2022

Our sympathy to the Pond family. Holly was a friend and a pilot for one of our planes. He was a great soul and wonderful friend. His pilot skills were above apporoach. We flew several hundred hours together and had many conversations. He loved his family and always talked about them. Great guy and will be missed.