Betty Jean Reistle Pierce

She was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital to Carl Ernest and Mattie Ann Muldrow Reistle. She attended San Jacinto High School and the Rice Institute as a student in the School of Architecture where she met George F. Pierce, Jr. They were married at Trinity Episcopal Church in October of 1942.

Betty and George loved St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and as founding members, they were committed to the church’s growth and service in the community.

She loved the arts and made lasting differences to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Contemporary Arts Museum and many other cultural and architectural organizations.

Betty won golf trophies at the Houston Country Club and was a dedicated Girl Scout leader; Rice Institute Alumni Homecoming Chairman, and Matron of honor at the launching of one of the largest ships ever constructed in the United States.

Betty and George continued to actively support their love for Rice through the founding of the President’s Club and in 1995 they endowed the Betty R. And George F. Pierce, Jr. Lecture Series in the School of Architecture for the benefit of the architecture program, it’s students, and the community. So many of Betty’s friends she knew at Rice blessed her throughout her life, especially the members of “The Sewing Club.” She and George traveled throughout the world making friends and encouraging understanding as they explored all the ways that architecture can make a difference in our lives.

Betty was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, George Foster Pierce, Jr.; her two sisters and brother, Mattie Ann Reistle Clark of Pasadena, California, Nancy Reistle Holliday Parker of College Station, Texas and Carl E. Reistle III of La Grange, Texas; her daughter, Nancy Pierce Brumback of Houston; and her grandson, Richard Glenn Arnett of Houston.

She is survived by her daughter, Ann Pierce Arnett and her husband Robert Glenn Arnett and her son, George F. Pierce III and his wife, Cynthia Crowson Pierce; as well as her grandchildren, Sarah Arnett Schoolar and her husband, Adrian of Wimberley, Texas, Kristen Dietrich Gallagher and her husband David of Houston; and Allen Carl Pierce of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; as well as her great-grandchildren, Ryan Glenn Arnett-Heitmann, Rigel Alexander Smith and Bronson Pierce Schoolar.

The Family appreciates so much the care she received from her friends at the Forum and particularly Karla Garcia, Sandra Cardona, Guillermina Simental de Rey and Guadalupe Beltran Borunda.

A memorial service for Betty is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 5th of January, in the Sanctuary of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road in Houston, where the Rev. Dr. Tom Pace will officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the nearby fellowship hall.

For those unable to attend, you may access the live stream link by selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the service information box below. Link will go active one hour prior to service. We also invite you to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with her family by selecting the "Add A Memory" icon below.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her name be directed to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77027; to Rice University, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892; or to the charity of one’s choice.