Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Pearce, William S. C. 1938 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net October 2, 2019, 10:47 am Ionia Sentinel Standard, 19 & 20 Aug 1938 Missing Week, Ionian Found Dead in Auto Missing since Friday, August 12, when he failed to return to his home after he left to put his car in a garage, William S.C. Pearce, 49, of 315 Pearl street was found dead in the back seat of his automobile at Highland Park cemetery at 8 o’clock, Thursday evening. The car, parked deep in underbrush of the cemetery, was found by Otto L. Rubach, Ionia merchant, who was caring for his family lot. Rubach told Sheriff Herbert A. Ross that he had gone to the cemetery shortly before 8 o’clock Thursday evening with his wife and that he saw the Pearce car near his lot. Coroner Harry Myers said he inspected the car with Sheriff Ross and found a rubber garden hose connecting the exhaust pipe and a rear window. All windows in the car were tightly closed. Coroner Myers said Pearce undoubtedly had been dead for a week, apparently driving to the cemetery the day he was reported to have been missing. A statewide search had been underway for several days, and Ionia officers had searched county for some clue as to Pearce’s whereabouts. Pearce was dismissed from the Michigan state reformatory last November. He had been employed in the inmate store as keeper for about 17 years before his dismissal. Coroner Myers said there would be no inquest. Surviving Pearce are his wife and two children, Gertrude and Donald, both of Ionia. Mr. Pearce was past worshipful master of Ionia lodge No. 36, F. and A.M., and past high priest of Ionia chapter No. 14, R.A.M. Private funeral services were to be held at 5:00 o’clock Friday afternoon at the home, 315 Pearl street, with Rev. Earl T. Kneebone, assisted by Rev. George Woolcock, conducting the Episcopal service. Ionia Masons were to conduct the Masonic committal service at the grave in Balcom cemetery. ------------ Funeral services were held Friday afternoon, August 19, at 5 o’clock for William S.C. Pearce, 49, at the Pearce home, 315 Pearl street. The service was conducted by the Rev. Earl T. Kneebone, pastor of the St. Johns Episcopal, assisted by the Rev. George Woolcock, pastor of the first Baptist church. Interment was in Balcom cemetery, conducted by Ionia Masons. Pallbearers were members of the Masonic lodge of which Mr. Pearce was past worshipful master. They were Edward W. Krainbrink, Blain Laden, William M. McElroy, Harris Jackson, Roy Whitesides and William A. Morey. The CCW class of the Baptist church attended the services in a group. Among those attending from away were Mr. and Mrs. E.J. McDonald of Boyne City, Charles VanAkin, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Yeiter and Mr. and Mrs. Amos Yeiter of Jackson. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/p/pearce10093gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 3.2 Kb