William Pearson Jr.

Bill was born March 21, 1932 in Pollok, Texas, the only son to Annie Mae (Sanders) and William Wade Pearson, Sr. of Pollok. Bill attended college at Stephen F. Austin State University before entering the U.S. Navy on March 6, 1951 and married Flora B. Cundith, from Sterling, Kansas, on February 22, 1952. His military service spanned 22 years with several ship deployments through the Korean and Vietnam wars, with the U.S.S. Bauer his most favored shipboard experience. He moved his family to Biloxi, Mississippi after retiring from the Navy, to work for Ingalls Shipbuilding, where he retired after 22 years in 1994. Bill and Flo relocated to Lufkin, Texas from 1997 to 2010, when they returned to Mississippi to reside in Moss Point. Bill was well respected in both careers and well loved by his family and friends who often looked to him for comfort and guidance through his kindness and generous spirit.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William W. & Annie Mae Pearson, Sr. and his sisters: Ruth Iris Pearson (Robert) Wise and Marjorie Pearson.

Bill is survived by his wife of 64 years, Flora Cundith Pearson; son and daughter-in-law, William W. & Terri Pearson III; daughter and son-in-law, Patti Pearson Reed Sturges & Frank “Sedge” Sturges IV; son and daughter-in-law, David & Kimberly Pearson; grandchildren, Kristina Pearson, William W. “Billy” Pearson, Glenn D. (Judy) Reed, Stephen J. (Jessika) Reed, Jesse Steuges, Meghan Sturges, Shannon Knapp, Melisssa Pearson & Matthew Pearson; great-grandchildren, Madelyn Reed, Bryce Reed, Kailyn Reed, Reece Reed, Libby Reed & Maggie Sturges-Knapp; and his sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth Pearson Brantley & Floyd Brantley.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that any donations be made to the Pollok Baptist Church or the Parkinson’s disease charity of your choice.

A visitation will be held Saturday, December 10, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Gipson Funeral Home in Lufkin. Graveside services will follow at 1:00 p.m. Saturday in the Pollok Cemetery.

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.