Thomas J. Pearce

Mr. Thomas John Pearce, of Bartow, Fla., passed away from heart failure at his home, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007. He was 83. Born July 5, 1923, in Flint MI, Mr. Pearce was a veteran of the U.S. Army in WWII, serving in Europe in General Patton's 3rd Army, 14th Armored Division. He received his Chemical Engineering degree from Tri-State University in Indiana and joined Swift & Co. in Hammond, Indiana in 1947. He came to Bartow from Chicago in 1959 to work as a Chemical Engineer in the Phosphate Industry. He also worked in plants in Korea and Australia. Mr. Pearce was active in, and past secretary of, the Central Florida section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He was also a former member of the Bartow Kiwanis Club. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bartow. Mr. Pearce is preceded in death by his daughter, Linda Gayle Pearce. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Pearce, a son, Bruce Pearce of Hudson, OH, a daughter, Elaine Pearce of Bartow, a brother, Wayne Pearce of Flint, MI, and two grandsons, William Thomas Pearce of Hudson, OH, and Barrett Eason Sathianathan of Bartow. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM, on Tuesday, January 9th at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow. Graveside services will be at the Wildwood Cemetery on Wednesday, January 10th at 11 AM.