William R. Pierce

William R. Pierce, age 73, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully, while surrounded by his family, on Friday, September 22, 2017. Born in Elkton, MD on July 26, 1944, Bob was a son of the late George Pierce and Tabitha (Thornton) Whittington. He proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from 1966 until his honorable discharge in 1968. Bob made his career as an IT manager and worked with Atlantic Aviation and Dassault Falcon Jet in New Castle, retiring after 46 years of dedicated employment. A devoted husband and father, his family was his world. Bob was actively involved in his children’s lives “ whether he was coaching their sports teams, cheering them on from the sidelines, or helping them complete a project “ he was ever-present. He adored spending time with his wife and best friend, Peggy. Whether they were working around the house together, traveling, or dancing the night away (they won numerous dance contests over the years) the two were inseparable. An avid sports fan, Bob looked forward to cheering on his beloved Philadelphia and U.D. teams each season. Active in his community, he was a longtime member of the A.F. & A.M. Solomon Lodge No. 36 and J. Allison O’Daniel VFW Post 475. Bob will be lovingly remembered as the greatest husband, father, and pop-pop Bob ever and will be dearly missed by all who knew him. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 4 sisters and 1 brother, George F. Pierce, with whom Bob shared a very close bond. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Margaret Peggy (Williams) Pierce; daughter, Mary Pierce-Cass (Brian) of Laurel; son, William R. Pierce II (Jennifer) of Smyrna; granddaughters, Jenessa and Melanie; and many extended family members. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Monday evening, October 2, 2017, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes, 121 W. Park Place, Newark, DE. A second visitation will be held from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at the funeral home, where a funeral service will begin at 12:30 pm. Interment will follow in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Rd., Bear, DE. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, 1235 South Clark Street, Suite 910, Arlington, VA 22202.