PONSONBY RICHARD Long time White Oak resident and well-known hair stylist, Richard Ponsonby, joined our Lord and his beloved wife of 56 years, Barbara Olsavsky Ponsonby, on July 23, 2013. He was 82 years young. Rich, as he was known to family and friends, as the owner of Richard's Family Hair Styling, operating for over 50 years on Versailles Avenue. Born on June 20, 1931 to Patrick and Jean Ponsonby, he was a self- made success story and a beloved member of the community. He came from a long line of barbers and opened his first shop with a partner after serving in the U.S. Navy during WW II and a short stint as a mill worker. Rich was a visionary and determined to make a good life for his wife and three children. He worked in his two-chair barber shop for many years, located on Versailles Avenue, where he became known as one of the best. It was not uncommon for there to be a line out the door of his local shop, where some waited hours to get a haircut from Richard. As he worked in his Barber Shop, he dreamed of owning the property across the street, where he visualized his shop of the future. In 1970, he fulfilled his dream, where he built his successful hair styling center that catered to the clientele. Richard did not build customer base, he built relationships, and it was not uncommon to have to wait for over a month to get an appointment with him. He was loved and respected by all for his devotion to God, his family and the profession he loved. He was well known for helping others, by giving free and discounted hair styling services to the poor and unemployed, for instilling work ethics and values to all his family and friends, and for leading many prayer groups and religious ministries throughout his life. He was a member of St. Angeles Merici Catholic Church in White Oak, where he served as a Eucharist minister and a member of the Pittsburgh Diocesan Choir. Rich and his wife, Barbara, were the matriarchs of the extended family on both sides, where all the nieces and nephews looked to both of them for guidance and wisdom. He was a great teacher of values, work ethics and service to others. It was once said, Richard is not a businessman in this town, he is an institution. Rich is survived by his three children, Kim Ann Ponsonby of Mount Washington, Christy Lynn (Timothy) Baker of Jefferson Hills, and Richard Mark Ponsonby of McKeesport; grandchildren, Jacob, Jessica, Jocelyn, Madison, and Haley; numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received at STRIFFLERS OF WHITE OAK CREMATION AND MORTUARY SERVICES, 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, Supervisor, 412-678-6177) on Thursday 6-8 p.m. and Friday 2-8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at St. Angela Merici Church. Burial will follow. Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb