Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Walter J. Pierpont, a 41 year resident of Abilene, died April 6, 2011 at Hendrick Medical Center following a brief illness. A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Friday, 8 April 2011, at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home in downtown Abilene. Services will be at 1:00 pm, Saturday, 9 April 2011 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Abilene with Rev. Eduardo Rivera and Rev. Pam Rowley officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.
Walt was born in Smiley, Texas, on 22 January 1921, the eldest son of Walter F. (Fritz) and Minnie C. (Dolly) Pierpont. He graduated from Smiley High School in 1939. After graduation, he worked for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, San Diego, California. He started his flying career in 1942 as a student in the civilian pilot training program at Quachita Baptist College, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. During the second phase of this program he received orders to report to San Antonio, Texas for aviation cadet training in the Army Air Corps.
He served in the Army Air Corps from April 1943 to April 1946. During this period he completed flight training in April 1944, receiving his pilot’s wings at Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas. After combat training at Columbia Army Air Base, Columbia, South Carolina in the B-25, he was sent to the China-Burma-India theater. He flew 39 combat missions in Burma and China as a member of the famous Burma Bridge Busters. When World War II ended, he returned to civilian life.
He continued his flying career in Victoria, Texas from 1946 to 1951 as a flight instructor, charter pilot and crop duster. He owned and operated the Victoria Flying Service. During this time, he met the love of his life, Roberta Louise Handly. They married in 1948 in Victoria.
Walt was called back to active duty in the United States Air Force in April, 1951. He was assigned to Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas as a training officer, but was on his way to Korea within 9 months. He amassed 55 combat missions in the A-26 during that conflict. Returning to the US, he served as an A-26 and B-25 instructor pilot. In May, 1957 he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command as a B-47 aircraft commander and served in this capacity at Dyess AFB, Texas, and RAF Brize Norton, England. His military career concluded at Altus AFB, Oklahoma where he served as a maintenance supervisor and squadron commander. Following retirement in 1969 after more than 21 years of active duty service, he settled with his family in Abilene.
Colonel Pierpont was a command pilot and flew 30 different aircraft in his civilian and military flying careers. His numerous decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and several other campaign and service medals. He was employed as Director of Transportation, Abilene Independent School District from 1970 to 1977. An aspiring author in his later years, he co-wrote The Wild Blue and Family Too under the pseudonym Buster Bridges, with Bob Lapham of Abilene. The book was a tribute to his Air Force career and family.
Walt was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 26 years, Roberta Handly Pierpont, two brothers, Eugene and Olen, both of San Antonio, and a grandson, James Gregory of Abilene. Survivors include two daughters, Ms. Martha Gregory of Abilene and Mrs. Pamela Johnson of Dallas; two sons, James S. (Jim) Pierpont of Abilene and Colonel (Dr) William F. (Bill) Pierpont of Sheppard AFB, Texas; two brothers, Ollin Pierpont of Smiley, Texas and Jerry Pierpont of Hillsboro, Texas; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Pallbearers will include grandsons Blair Pierpont, Eric Johnson, Kyle Johnson, Drew Pierpont, Grant Pierpont, and Ryan Pierpont. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and the family requests that memorial contributions be made to St Paul United Methodist Church or other charity of choice.
You may view and sign the guestbook at www.elliotthamilfuneralhome.com.
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