Wilbur “Bill” Pearce Sr.

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, May 3, 2005

Wilbur “Bill” Pearce Sr. died Monday, April 25, at the Blue Mountain Hospital. He was 90. A graveside memorial service was held April 29 at the Canyon City Cemetery.

Mr. Pearce was born March 13, 1915, in Listie, Penn. He settled in La Grande, where he met his wife, Freda, of 69 years.

They lived in La Grande for nine years until moving to Hermiston in 1941, where he was employed with the Umatilla Ordinance Depot. He worked there for 20 years. He started as a military chauffeur, working up to an executive assistant, where he managed and supervised more than 1,200 employees.

They moved to Nevada, where he dabbled in mining in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They moved to Seneca, where they managed the Seneca Tavern for three years, before buying the Central Pastime in Burns, living in Burns for seven years until retiring in 1983. Arizona was their last move before returning to Grant County and living in Canyon City to be near family and friends.

Mr. Pearce was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge and the Elks Lodge of Hermiston. He was also a member of the Kiwanis and the Rotary Club. He loved to tinker and invent things, having had four patents to his name.

He is survived by his wife, Freda, of Canyon City; two sons, Gene and his wife, Sherry, of Canyon City; Don and his wife, Marlene, of Calif.; one daughter, Margaret Wark and her husband, Dean, of Calif.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His parents and two younger brothers preceded him in death.

Driskill Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.