Joe Pierce

July 3, 1919 - Sept. 29, 2014 Joseph Battle (Joe) Pierce of Hoover passed away peacefully at home September 29, 2014. He was born July 3, 1919 in Smithfield, North Carolina. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 3, 2014, at 2:00 PM at Southminster Presbyterian Church. The family will receive visitors at 1:00 PM before the service. Interment will be a private family service at The National Veterans Cemetery. Mr. Pierce was the fourth of five children born to Charles Iredell Pierce and Helen Vinson Parker Pierce. He grew up in Smithfield and although his father passed away in 1924 he always had fond memories of his small town life, proudly recalling being voted the most popular boy in town when he was 12. He moved to Greensboro, NC after high school and was working for Sealtest Ice Cream when he met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth (Lib) Goodwin. When he was drafted in May 1941 he took the opportunity to enlist in the US Army Air Corps which started a 30 year exemplary career. When he retired he was recognized throughout SAC for his expertise and knowledge in KC-135 operations and maintenance. He served during WW II, Korea, and Vietnam. He and Lib were married in 1943 while he was stationed in Waco, Texas. This began an interesting period of their lives where they moved 19 times during his USAF career. They lived coast to coast and in Okinawa in those times. Upon retiring from the Air Force In 1971 after 30 years of service, he went to work with Hayes Aircraft and they made their last move to Birmingham. He was with Hayes 17 years, retiring as Assistant Vice President for Quality. In retirement he really enjoyed fishing and serving his church. He really loved to read, and playing bridge. He was a natural mechanic and handyman and enjoyed making furniture as well as working around the church on projects. He was a lifelong Presbyterian, serving as a deacon and ruling elder at many churches as they moved around. His faith was an important part of his life, and though frail he was still attending services until two weeks ago. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Elizabeth Quigley, Adelaide Thompson, Charles Pierce, and Leila Ruth Klinger. He is survived by his wife of 71 years Lib, his son Joe B Pierce, Jr. (Susan) of Shreveport, La, and daughter Louise Pierce Draper (Bobby) of Folsom, La. He had six grandchildren - Lark Draper, Claire Draper, Joseph (Trey) Pierce III, Todd Pierce (Melinda) of Riverside, Al, Brian Pierce (Corie) of Dallas, Tx, and Betsy Pierce Britton (Andrew) of New York, NY. There are five great-grandchildren - Daniel and Dalton Pierce, Kelsie and Dylan Pierce, and Cash Britton, and two step-great-grandchildren - Austin Mason and the late Zachary Mason. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Wounded Warrior Project.