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Donald E. 'Don' Pierce Endwell, NY QCWA # 33318 Chapter 28 |
Donald Edward Pierce of Endwell. Husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and educator, Donald Edward Pierce came to the end of a long and happy life on July 9, 2015, at the age of 90. Born Nov. 30, 1924 in Cortland, NY, to George L. and Florence Belle Haight Pierce, he grew up there and graduated from Cortland High School in 1942. Don entered the U.S. Navy, serving as an Aviation Electronics Technician Mate First Class during World War II.
After the war, he returned to New York, where he attended Cornell and graduated from Cortland State Teachers College, earning a BS in Elementary Education in 1951 and an MS in 1955. While at Cortland State, Don met his one-and-only, Mary Lou Swanson Pierce. They married on Aug. 22, 1948; their marriage endured for nearly 67 years. Don taught elementary school in Virgil and Berkshire before moving to Maine-Endwell, where he would become an institution over nearly half a century. He served as principal of Hooper School, then Endwell Elementary and finally Homer F. Brink from 1957-1980, when he retired. Elected to the M-E school board in 1984, he served until 2005.
Don was a longtime ham-radio operator (WB2GAN, AB2HT) and member of Air Force MARS (AFC2GAN). He was a member of the Masons, a Past Master of the Newark Valley Masonic Lodge, and Past President of the Endwell Rotary Club. He enjoyed fixing things around the house, caring for the yard and pool, tinkering with cars - things to keep him busy and help out family and friends. Together, Don and Lou enjoyed bowling and golfing, and spent several years of retirement traveling in their motor home.
Don is predeceased by his parents and one brother, Kenneth M. Pierce. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; his children, Kimberley Pierce, Timothy (Renee) Pierce, Scott Pierce, Lynne Pierce and Betsy (John) Pope; his grandchildren, Courtney (Galen) Richmond, Brittany Pierce (Adam Lapinski); Colin Pierce (Morgan Fletcher), Amanda Pierce (Jeremy Tyrell), Jonathon Pierce, Hillary Pierce and Caleigh Pope; and his great-granddaughter, Lila Lou "The Little One" Richmond.
The family will receive friends Monday 5-8pm at the Chopyak-Scheider Funeral Home, 326 Prospect St., Binghamton and Tuesday 10am until 11am at Endwell United Methodist Church, 3301 Watson Boulevard, Endwell. A Masonic Service will be conducted by the brethren of Round Hill Lodge #533F & A.M. on Monday at 7:45pm at the funeral home.
A Celebration of Mr. Pierce's Life will be offered by Rev. Mark Kimpland and Rev. Jose Valencia on Tuesday at 11am at the church. Entombment will follow in Vestal Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Donald E. Pierce Honorary Scholarship.