William B Pierce (Bill), age 79, passed away on November 9, 2022. He was born in Euclid, Ohio to the late William F Pierce and Josephine Chapic Pierce. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marcia Pierce and his son William A Pierce (Bill) of Columbia, SC and his daughter and son in law Beth Pierce Meredith and Robert Meredith of Mt Pleasant, SC. He is also survived by his sister Alice Leskovec and her husband Ed of Chardon, Ohio, and his younger brother, Robert (Bob) and his wife Pat of Poolsville, MD and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill attended St Joseph's High School in Euclid, Ohio. Throughout high school and college, he gained recognition for his talents on the football field and wrestling mat. He attended Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio on wrestling and football scholarships where he was an All-American in both sports. In 1964 he won the coveted Ohio Athletics Conference wrestling champion. In 1965 he took second place in the NCAA wrestling heavyweight division. In 1978 he was inducted into the Hiram College William H Hollinger Athletic Hall of Fame.

Bill had a long and successful career in the banking industry which brought Bill and his family to South Carolina. After retiring from the banking industry, Bill was a restaurant owner and worked in the automotive equipment industry. He was an entrepreneur in the true sense of the word as he always thought of a creative solution to every endeavor.

He excelled at growing tomatoes, designing houses for his family, traveling, and all competitive sports. He was a gifted pianist and enjoyed creating songs as he played his baby grand piano. He was loyal to his oversized "old man" flip phone that he referred to as his "Columbus communicator."

A requiem Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Chapin, SC at 1:30 PM on November 15, 2022. A reception will follow in the Church hall where family will receive friends.

Whitaker Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements, and contributions can be made to The American Heart Association www.heart.org in memory of William B Pierce.