Dale Pearce

Dale V. Pearce, age 91, of Springfield, Missouri, passed peacefully on November 14th after a lengthy illness. Dale was born in Niangua, Missouri, to Eunice Massey Pearce and Earl Pearce at the height of the Great Depression. During his early years the family moved often, following his father as he traveled looking for work.

At the age of 14 the family moved to Springfield, where he enrolled in Jarret Junior High. He was proud to call Springfield home and made lifelong friends while attending Senior High, graduating with the class of 1951.

It was during his high school years that he developed a love of basketball and cars. His first car was a 1939 black Ford Deluxe coupe, one of 55 others he owned over his lifetime. He was also a strong supporter of Missouri State athletics, with the distinction of being a basketball season ticket holder since 1964. Dale served as President of the Papa Bears Booster club during the 1980's.

After graduation he became a floor covering installer, a trade that would serve him well throughout his life.

In 1954 he married Diana Sallee and together they raised three boys.

1956 saw Dale joining the Navy, where he was based at North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado, CA, alongside his brother.

After returning to Springfield in 1958 he worked in the floor covering industry until 1970, when he opened his own business, The Carpet Shoppe, which will celebrate its 55th anniversary this December.

In 1984 he married Pam, and they enjoyed 41 years together. Pam worked alongside Dale at The Carpet Shoppe and continues in the business.

In the early 1960's Dale played his first round of golf, and it quickly became his lifelong passion. He loved not only the sport, but all the new friendships and competitive challenges each round brought. During the 1970's and continuing through the 1990's, he organized a February group golf trip to Scottsdale, AZ. These were popular annual escapes featuring sun, great food, serious gin games, and 36 holes of golf each day. He held fond memories of these experiences and the hilarious stories they spawned.

In the countless rounds of golf Dale played, a hole-in-one eluded him until July 3, 2014, at 80 years old!

Dale loved his family, friends, and employees, but especially his grandchildren. His faith and strong work ethic guided him throughout his 91 years.

Kind, classy, and civil. His was a big life well lived.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Don and his wife Dorothy.

He is survived by his wife Pam; brother, Dennis Pearce; sons, Darren/Lori, Doug Pearce, Drew Pearce, all of Springfield, and Wes Lipe/Penny of Kirkwood, MO; grandchildren, Jeremy Pearce, Savannah Pearce, Nathan Pearce (fiancée) Mercedes, Dani Bueno/Edgar, Max Lipe, and Remy Lipe; and great grandson, Harvey Pearce.

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 24, at 11:00 AM at King's Way Methodist Church under the direction of Gorman Scharpf, with burial following at Missouri Veteran's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family welcomes donations in Dale's memory to the MSU Foundation c/o Athletics Development. Meyer Alumni Center, suite 200. 300 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806 For the Dale Pearce Basketball Scholarship. If you would like to make your gift online, please go to missouristate.edu select GIVE TO MO STATE button and write in your designation, or to the Council of Churches, 3055 E. Division, Springfield, MO 65802.