Wilmington, Delaware – It is with great sadness that the family of Howard R. Pierce announces his passing on Wednesday, March10, 2021. He passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family to go to his heavenly home and be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Howard was born October 27, 1927 to the late Paul Phillip and Rebecca Marguerite Riale Pierce in West Grove, Pennsylvania.

Howard attended Sunday School and was always singing children’s hymns and went to school at the one room schoolhouse and also Avon Grove School and Kennett High School both in Pennsylvania. He moved to work on the family farm in 1937 and this is where he met the love of his life and married Sarah Louise (Gill) Pierce in 1947. Howard and Louise just celebrated 74 years of marriage on January 30, 2021. The family farm was sold and Howard went on to play baseball and played pro ball with The Boston Braves and one year of spring training with The Philadelphia Phillies. He was inducted into The Kennett Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. When the family starting growing Howard decided on another career at The NVF Mill in Yorklyn, Delaware and then moved on to yet another career which was working on The Estates for Mr, Eugene DuPont and Mr. Nicholas DuPont before ending his DuPont career at The Stine Haskell Lab retiring in 1985. September of 1986 was Howard’s first vacation and he and Louise along with Howard’s brother David and his wife Jean who is Louise’s sister drove across the states to California to visit another brother Francis and his wife Lois. Howard was a great and very kind and generous man. Always thinking of others before himself and this was shown through all of his actions. Howard was a faithful and dedicated man. He was a 68 year member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church. He was a 69 year member of Centreville Lodge #37 of The Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also a member of Centre Grange #11. Howard loved telling stories of working on the farm, and his baseball days, playing checkers, cards, dominoes, darts, horseshoes and shuffleboard. Howard and Louise were blessed with 8 children, 20 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren. His best times were spent with family.

Howard is pre-deceased by his parents; his 3 brothers: David, Warren, and Francis, 2 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; and 1 great great grandchild. Howard is survived by his beloved wife Louise and his 8 children: daughter, Dorothy Pierce of New York, son, Gary Pierce (Geraldine) of Rising Sun, Maryland, daughter, Helen Lynch (Michael) of Newark, Delaware, son, Howard E. Pierce (Mary Ruth) of Bear, Delaware, daughter, Doris Jeffrey (Mike) of Wilmington, Delaware, daughter, Faye Nickle (Elmer) of Newark, Delaware, daughter, Janet Pierce of Wilmington, Delaware, and daughter, Denise Blanco (Patrick) of Wilmington, Delaware. He is also survived by his brother, Gifford Pierce (Betty) of Exton, Pennsylvania; sister, Rebecca Edwards (Edwin); and sister, Mary Ann Henry both of Cochranville, Pennsylvania; sister-in-law, Margaret Ann Gill of Fair Hill, Maryland; and sister-in-law, Joyce Rock of Morgantown, Pennsylvania; several nieces and nephews and lots of friends. Howard will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. The family sincerely gives a big Thank You to Season’s Hospice for the special care they gave to Howard.

Funeral Services and Internment will take place at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 525 Polly Drummond Hill Road, Newark, Delaware 19711 on Friday, March 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. where family and friends may start visiting at 10:00 a.m. There will be an Odd Fellow and a Grange Service as well. Due to COVID restrictions, masks and social distancing must be practiced. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to “Ebenezer United Methodist Church” and sent in care of R.T. Foard & Jones Funeral Home, 122 W. Main St., Newark, DE 19711.