William Lawton Pierce

William “Bill” Lawton Pierce, age 92, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 17, 2025, in Bowie, Maryland. A man of great intellect, humor, and kindness, Bill lived a life full of adventure, achievement, and love for his family.

Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, Bill grew up with a passion for sports and learning. At Boston Latin School, he played freshman baseball and junior/senior golf and even represented the school at Boston Rotary Club luncheons. His love for teamwork and leadership followed him throughout his life.

Bill went on to Dartmouth College and the Thayer School of Engineering, earning his Master’s in Electrical Engineering in 1956. A proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and captain of the Thayer softball team, Bill also served in AROTC before beginning active duty at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where he taught Anti-Aircraft Fire Control at the Army’s Ordnance School.

His civilian career was equally impressive. At Bell Telephone Laboratories, he contributed to the SAGE air defense system and, more importantly, met his first wife, Beryl Murphy. Together, they raised four children during their 20 years of marriage. Later, his career took him to the Center for Naval Analysis, where he helped pioneer manual war games for the Department of Defense—including a unique assignment in Iran.

Bill’s second chapter in life began when he married Lois Weber, a widow with five children, creating a lively and blended family. Professionally, he flourished at Computer Sciences Corporation, where his brilliance for developing computer models shone—supporting naval aviation, anti-submarine warfare, and advanced weapons systems.

In 1978, Bill and Lois moved their family to Vista, California, where Bill supported the Navy Ocean Systems Center in San Diego. Beyond work, he spent three decades coaching and umpiring for the BOBBYSOX girls’ fast-pitch softball league, becoming a beloved mentor to countless young athletes. His career also took him to Zurich, Switzerland, where he developed a lifelong friendship with his work colleague Mark Kent and Mark's wife Amy. While in Switzerland he developed advanced defense modeling systems before returning to California and eventually retiring in 2014 after a long and distinguished career.

Retirement didn’t slow Bill down. He dedicated his time to the Vista Senior Center, where he joyfully drove fellow seniors to medical appointments, offering conversation and companionship along the way. After Lois passed in 2018, Bill moved to Bowie, Maryland, to live with his son Kevin. There, he enjoyed precious time with his children and grandchildren.

Bill will be remembered for his sharp wit, generosity, and lifelong commitment to family, service, and community. His legacy lives on in his children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren, who will continue to cherish his stories, laughter, and love.

Bill is survived by his children - Jocelyn Audet (Peter Douglas), Jennifer Topping (Thomas), Hilary Gough (Peter), Kevin (Lauren Ponder) - his stepchildren Mark, Matt, Michele, Laura, and Lois, his grandchildren Tyler, Stevyn, and Fredrick, and step-grandchildren Leah, Brittany, Benjamin, Nicholas, Jillian, Mathew, and Michael.

A life well lived, and a man well loved, Bill will be deeply missed and joyfully remembered.

Bill had a deep passion for military history and a great love for cats. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly invites you to honor his memory with a donation to a charity he would have supported, such as the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), the Best Friends Animal Society, or the American Battlefield Trust.

Celebration of life to be held privately by the family.