Earl W. Pickerill, age 90, of Springfield, MO, passed away on June 8, 2012, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield.
He was born on November 22, 1921, in Kansas City, MO, to Earl and Nola (Stevens) Pickerill. He was of the Baptist faith and regularly attended services at The Montclair where he resided.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Ruth Geraldine (Owen); his parents, a sister, Cleta J. Pickerill, a retired teacher of the Kansas City, MO, public school system. Earl and Ruth had no children, but loved and cared for many cats and dogs. During their life together they lived in Kansas City until 1976 when they moved to Royersford, PA. Mr. Pickerill, a licensed professional engineer, was a 1948 graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Pickerill retired from the Certainteed Corporation (now Saint Gobain Corporation) of King of Prussia, PA, in 1987, but continued to live in Pennsylvania until 2007 when he moved to Springfield, MO.
Mr. Pickerill was a veteran of WWII. He was a First Lieutenant (Navigator) on B-24 bombers. He was credited with 51 combat missions with the Fifteenth Army Air Corps based in Italy and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after which he returned to the States and spent the remainder of his service in the Air Transport Command. Mr. Pickerill and his wife, Ruth had an antique business in Pennsylvania for about 30 years. He was also an avid golfer and bridge player.
He is survived by a nephew, Jack Lilley and his wife Lisa of Springfield, MO, a niece, Janice Montgomery and her husband Edward of Palm Desert, CA, as well as other relatives and friends.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 13, 2012, at Hazelwood Cemetery with Chaplain Steve Clark officiating. A memorial service will be held at The Montclair at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 14, 2012.
Services have been entrusted to Greenlawn Funeral Home South.