RALPH PIERCE, 71
Ralph Lester Pierce was born Feb. 22, 1900. He was the son of Walter and Inez (Entwisle) Pierce. He was united in marriage to Bessie Belle Wickham
on Oct. 26, 1918, at West Union. The couple were the parents of nine children: two sons and seven daughters. The couple farmed in the Hawkeye, Alpha and Waucoma areas until their retirement when they moved to Alpha and later to Hawkeye. Mr. Pierce, a retired farmer, became ill Tuesday and was taken to the Palmer Memorial Hospital at West Union where he died early Wednesday morning, January 12, 1972 at the age of 71 years.

Survivors are his wife, Bessie, of the Fayette County Hospital; one son, Carlyle at Hawkeye; seven daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Holub of Protivin, Mrs. Robert (Shirley) Wims of Cedar Rapids, Mrs. Otto (Harriet) Severi of Talmage, Calif., Mrs. Vernon (Elaine) Coontz, Mrs. Donna Wagner, Mrs. Alvin (Lois) Johnson, all of Waterloo; and Mrs. Alden (Norma) Jarehow of Fredericksburg; 23 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; two brothers, Leo in Missouri and Walter of west Union; four sisters, Mrs. Floyd Messgar of Chicago, Illinois, Mrs. Ethel Hyman in Missouri, Mrs. Merle Sawvell of Tucson, Ariz., and Mrs. Martha Homewood of Hawkeye.. He was preceded in death by one son, Clifford, and his parents.

Services were held Saturday afternoon, Jan. 15, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Hawkeye with Rev. Edward Cass, officiating. Organ music was provided by Mrs. Alan Halverson. Pallbearers were Archie Bowers, Jr., Charles Homewood, Harold Pierce, Leon R. Wickham, Robert Homewood, Calvin Pierce.

Burial was in the Alpha Cemetery with Emerson-Milnes Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.


Sumner Gazette January 30, 1972