William Henry Pierce was born to Carrie and Henry Pierce in Huron, South Dakota. He attended high school in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he played basketball on the 1950 Central High School South Dakota State championship basketball team. Bill received his B.S. and M.S. from Iowa State University. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and the Navy R.O.T.C Program. After graduation, he spent 3 years in the Marine Corps. For 14 months, Bill was stationed in Japan at the foot of Mount Fuji. During that time, he was in charge of bringing fresh water to one of the warn-torn islands in the Pacific.
For 30 years, Bill was employed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He retired as San Francisco Branch Chief in the Enforcement Division of Water, which covered an area from Arizona to Hawaii.
Bill attended Calvary Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. There, he met his wife Barbara La Mair, of Chicago and San Francisco. They were married May 24, 1975, and moved to San Rafael a year later. He sang in the choir and became a deacon and an elder. Bill enjoyed golf, tennis, skiing, dancing, the theater, and travel.
Survivors include his wife Barbara La Mair, his brothers Dr. James Pierce (Sue) and Robert Pierce (Sandy), his niece Elizabeth Varhus (Kristofor), his nephews Andy Pierce (Sandy), Henry Pierce, and Matt Pierce (Deanna), 4 grandnephews, his cousin Elizabeth Ashley (Ray), who was like a sister to him, many cousins, and his beloved cats Gigi and Princess Sara. A sweeter, kinder, more fun-loving person never lived- a perfect gentleman.
Services will be held Saturday, January 18, 2014, at Calvary Presbyterian Church, corner of Fillmore and Jackson Streets, San Francisco, at 11:00 a.m. Parking on the street or at the C.P.M.C. garage 3 blocks away at the corner of Clay and Webster Streets. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Marin S.P.C.A or Calvary Presbyterian Church would be appreciated.
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