William Pearson

On October 14, 2011 William (Bill) Harvey Pearson, at 86 years of age was called to Heaven following a prolonged illness (Alzheimer's). He leaves a family who will always be grateful for his kindness and love, dedication, example, and guidance. On January 19, 1925, Bill was born in Oxnard, California. He spent all his early years in Fillmore, California where he attended Fillmore High School. After graduation from his beloved high school in 1942, he enrolled in Occidental College, Southern California. His college education was postponed when he began, at the age of 18 years, serving for the U.S. Army in the Asia-Pacific Theater of World War II. Bill was a forward aircraft spotter/radio operator in New Guinea and the Philippines. He landed with invasion forces during the Battle of Leyte amidst Japanese kamikaze attacks. His decorations and citations include the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Arrowhead, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, American Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He continued his studies at Occidental College until graduation in 1949. In Los Angeles, Bill met Carol Fowler, the girl he would marry in 1954 and who would be his faithful and loving companion the rest of his life. Bill went on to receive his Master of Science in Education at the University of Southern California in 1962. Bill was recognized for his athletic achievements not only in football but also track and field events at Fillmore High School and Occidental College. Accordingly, he is in both the Fillmore High School and Occidental College Sports Halls of Fame. He continued playing football on a professional level with the Los Angeles Rams in 1949 and Washington Redskins in 1950. His specialty was both offensive and defensive end. His family, friends, teachers, coaches, and fellow team members always remembered Bill for the qualities of high academic achievement, great sports abilities, and for the gentleman he always was. The Pearsons with their two young sons moved to El Paso in 1966 where Bill worked for the City of El Paso Planning Department as a senior planner. He retired from public service in 1987. Bill and Carol built their current home in Las Cruces in 1988 and enjoyed retirement for some years. Bill loved playing golf, competitive running, and race walking for which he won numerous awards. He participated in the New Mexico Senior Olympics in track and field events and loved being a senior Olympian. The last two and a half years of his life were spent at the New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. We, his family, are deeply grateful to the entire Staff of this beautiful facility for the professional and excellent care he received there. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carol Pearson; his two sons, Mark and John Pearson; his three grandchildren Ian, Kyleigh, and Isabelle Pearson, and his sister Betty Pearson Tavaglione. In a private family gathering on October 18, 2011, the Reverend Mitchell Dowalgo, CSB, blessed and placed Bill's ashes in the Columbarium at St. Albert the Great, Newman Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico.