Obituary of William F. Pierce

William Franklin Pierce, 91, of Philadelphia, PA, died peacefully at Bishop White Lodge with his beloved Tchaikovsky playing and loving family at his side on January 17, 2018. Father of Mary (Francis) Muller, Joan (Dimitri) Katsareas, Sue (Christine Dacier) Pierce, Katherine (Joseph) Franz, Jenny Pierce, David (Jody) Pierce, stepchildren Donald (Ellen Kalin) Scruggs and Julia Kempe, eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and extended family. Also survived by cousins Mary Kay Cooley, Medford, NJ and Helen Cooley Reilly, Asheville, NC. Preceded in death by his wife, Grace Gwendolyn Pierce and his former wife, Janette Skerrett Pierce. He was a devoted father, husband, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Bill was a native Californian, born and raised in San Jose, CA. He came east to attend The United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in the class of 1950. He served with distinction in the Korean War in the 69th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. After leaving the Army, he was an engineer in the defense contracting industry while he and his first wife Jan raised six children in Wayne, PA. After their marriage ended, Bill became a consumer investigator for the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection and relocated to Washington, DC where he met his second wife, Grace; they resided in Hyattsville, MD. He and Grace retired to Chandler, AZ, then relocated to Bowie, MD. Upon her death, he moved to Cathedral Village in Philadelphia, PA and then entered its Bishop White Lodge nursing facility. As a young man, Bill played piano and organ and had a life-long love of classical music. He was also a devoted opera fan and possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of music and world history. In retirement, he and his wife traveled extensively within the U.S. and on cruises to Western Europe, the Soviet Union, and Hawaii. The family thanks the nursing and medical staff at Bishop White Lodge and Home Helpers Home Care for loving care and support. Also thank you to Randy Lownes and the staff of Lownes Funeral Home for all of the arrangements. Memorial Service Sat. Feb. 10, 11 A.M. at St. Jude and the Nativity Church, 203 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA. Visitation 10-11 A.M. at church. Interment private. Memorial donations may be made to WRTI-FM