LAWRENCE D. "LARRY" PIERCE
Lawrence D. "Larry" Pierce, 62, died suddenly at his home in Spring Hill, Kan., on July 23, 2009. He was born on May 21, 1947, in Warren, Ohio, to Harry and Pansy Pierce. He leaves behind his wife, Linda, two sisters, Kerry Fox of Boneville, Ga., and April Riggs of Berlin Center, Ohio. A brother, Gregory, died in 1969.
His career took him to many interesting places. In 1966 his first Air Force assignment as a jet engine mechanic was Webb AFT in Big Spring, Texas. After discharge he returned home, met Linda and they married on Sept. 11, 1970. A few months later he reenlisted and returned to Webb where he later cross-trained into non-destructive testing. That field sent him to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska, where he also certified student welders at the University of Alaska Anchorage. His last Air Force assignment was Castle AFB in Merced, Calif. where he was discharged. They returned to Ohio for a few months and then moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he studied electro-mechanical engineering at Pinellas Vo-Tech. In 1981 they returned to Anchorage, Alaska where he was employed by General Electric as an electronics technician for the National Weather Service. The next move was to the Atlantic Marine Center in Norfolk, Virginia, assigned to the NOAA research vessels. His tours at sea took him around the world for over two years. The next move was to Reno, Nevada, for a few years then a promotion brought him to the National Weather Services' National Reconditioning Center located in the Bannister Federal Complex. He retired on Aug. 30, 2008 and plans were underway to move to the desert in Nevada to prospect and do some sports betting.
Larry was a Life Member of American Legion Post 737 in Lake Milton, Ohio; a member of the Lost Dutchman's Mining Association since 1994; a member of the Gold Prospectors Association of America since 1991 and a charter member of the Missouri "Show Me Gold" Chapter; and additionally the Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters Club; Gold Prospectors of Colorado; American Society of Non-Destructive Testing, charter member of the Anchorage, Alaska, chapter.
In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to the Olathe Salvation Army.