He was born to Albert and Clara Fern Pierce on the 23rd of October, 1938 in McPherson, Kansas. When he was eight, the family moved to Velma, Oklahoma where he lived through high school. He completed his BS degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Oklahoma in 1961.
David attended OU on a baseball scholarship and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. While there he met his future wife, Caroline Ridling, and they married upon graduation in June, 1961 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Ada, Oklahoma.
He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the US Army, where he served for two years. Following his service, he attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he completed both MS and PhD degrees in Civil Engineering.
His career was spent in the offshore production segment of the energy industry. He joined the research division of what is now ExxonMobil Corporation in 1968. After 11 years with ExxonMobil, he joined Single Buoy Moorings (SBM). He served as President of Neptune Production Systems in the 1980’s and subsequently consulted for several major energy companies.
His career afforded David and his family the opportunity to travel widely and to live in London, Monte Carlo, Milan, and Buenos Aires while always maintaining a home in Houston.
He was a Registered Professional Engineer and a member of the ASCE and SPE. For many years he enjoyed participating in advisory roles with the University of Oklahoma CEES Council and with Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio as an advisory trustee.
David had a great passion for reading and for all things related to his family.
He and Caroline have been longtime members of Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston.
David was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Vernon Pierce and Clara Fern Mast Pierce. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Caroline; his sons, David Albert Pierce and wife, Annie of Austin; Robert Ridling Pierce and wife Amy of Houston; and six grandchildren, Ellery and Luc (children of David and Annie), and Kendall, Kyle, Kaitlyn and Kamren (children of Robert and Amy). Also surviving him are his aunts, Elsie Blanka and Jean Pierce; and cousins, Cathy Thomas and her husband Jim of Houston, Nancy Barutio, Jerry Ensminger, and Vicki McKenney.
A memorial service celebrating his life is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 30th of April, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr., Rector, and The Rev. R-J Heijman, Associate for Stewardship and Young Adult Ministries, will officiate.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced during the service.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX, 77056; to the Gallogly College of Engineering, The University of Oklahoma, 202 W. Boyd St., Room 104, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-0631; or to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS, 66675-8517.
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