Obituary: Willard H. Pierce, 89, of Uncasville

Information via Byles-MacDougall Funeral Service

UNCASVILLE, CT - Willard H. Pierce , 89, of Uncasville died peacefully at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on December 17th. He was born June 5, 1927 in Barrington, Rhode Island the son of Leon and Sadie Friars Pierce.

He graduated from Barrington High School and enlisted in the US Army and was stationed at Ft. Knox. After his military service he enrolled at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he met the love of his life.In 1953 with a Bachelor of Music he headed to Westtown, PA to teach in a private school.

He married Joan McConnell Pierce in 1954 and got a job at Waterford High School as the Music Director, and then later moved to Montville High School where he established the instrumental music department which went into full gear with new orange and black uniforms. Band competitions were also added to the schedule. From 1973 until 1983 the band traveled to Canada twice, the Hershey Festival in PA, Apple Blossom in VA, Edison Pageant of Light in Ft. Myers, FL and raised $20,000. Needed to get there selling candy bars and washing cars.

In 1979 at the State Championship Band Competition in Bridegport,, Montville High School won 1st Place for Field Show, 1st Place for Flag Corps, 1st Place for Auxiliary and 1st Place for Drum Major.

In 1983 he decided to retire and spent wonderful days on the golf course with his buddies. The winter months were long so he found another love - model trains. While his wife was still teaching he assembled train sets, built mountains of all sizes and shapes, many buildings , together with trains running all over the set. In 2000, he decided it was time to travel, with his first wish being Australia. In the first 10 years of 2000 he and his wife Joan and friends also traveled to Russia, China, River Cruises in France, Amsterdam, Budapest, Greece, Tahiti, Venice and the South Seas. He was also a great bowler and loved going out to dinner with his friends on Tuesday and Friday. He loved life and lived it to the fullest and all his students held a special place in his heart.

Survivors include his wife Joan, a brother Merrill Pierce of North Carolina and a sister Gloria Brandt of Locust Grove , PA, many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by a brother Leon and a sister Sally.

The Funeral will be held 10:10 a.m. Wednesday at St. James Episcopal Church, 76 Federal St., New London. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery in Norwich. Calling hours will be held 4 – 7 PM Tuesday at the Byles Memorial home, 99 Huntington St., New London, CT 06320.

In lieu of flowers donations should be made to the Pierce Music Scholarship C/O Montville High School, 800 Old Colchester Rd., Oakdale, CT 06370.