Find A Grave Memorial
 

Rites Today For County Soldier Killed in Vietnam

Funeral services were to be conducted today in Palacios for Army Spec. 4 Michael Abel Pierce who was killed in South Vietnam Jan. 1, 1971. Stationed at Chu Lai, Pierce met his untimely death when a weapon accidentally went off, according to his mother, Mrs. Abel Pierce, Jr. of Palacios. The serviceman had specialized in explosive ordnance demolition, she said. A 1968 graduate of Palacios High School, Pierce volunteered into the Army March 5 of that year. He had been in Vietnam since July 1, 1970. Born in Brownfield, Texas, Pierce had lived in Palacios since he was one year old. He died only 26 days before his 21st birthday. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Pierce, Jr. of Palacios; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Pierce, Sr., also of Palacios and grandmother Mrs. R. C. Wilkerson of Needville, Texas. Also left are his sister, Martha Elizabeth, and two brothers, John Roy of North Salt Lake and Warren Edward, currently stationed in Korea. Funeral services were expected to be held at 4 p.m. today at the First Presbyterian Church in Palacios, the Rev. Richard Stone of Belton, Texas, officiating. Interment was planned for Hawley Cemetery with full military services at the gravesite.

The Daily Tribune, January 11, 1971

Plaque at the base of the Hawley flagpole in memory of Michael Abel Pierce.
 

Michael Abel Pierce

Funeral services for Army Specialist 4 Michael Abel Pierce, who was killed in Chu Lai, Vietnam, on January 1, were held Monday, January 11, at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. R. E. Stone officiating.

Burial, with full military honors by Army personnel, were held in Hawley Cemetery.

Born in Brownfield, Texas on January 27, 1950, he had lived in Palacios since he was a year old. He attended Palacios schools, graduating in 1968. He volunteered for the Army on March 5 of that same year and had been in Vietnam since July 1, 1970.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Pierce, Jr.; sister, Martha, of Palacios; two brothers, John Roy Pierce of North Salt Lake, Utah and Warren Pierce, who was serving in Korea and accompanied his brother's body home; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Pierce, Sr. of Palacios and Mrs. Bea Wilkerson of Needville.

Palacios Beacon, Monday, January 13, 1971
 

AWARDS PRESENTATION

Formal military ceremonies were held at the Armory Saturday morning to honor Michael Abel Pierce, son of Mr. and Mrs. Abel Pierce, Jr. of Palacios. He gave his life on Jan. 1, while serving with the United States Army in Vietnam. Prior to his death, the serviceman had received the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Sharpshooters Badge with rifle. In the posthumous services, young Pierce was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. These were presented to his mother by SFC Arthur Hamblin, Bay City Army Recruiter. Shown [in picture] left to right, are Lt. Glen Matthews of the 341st Chemical Co. Reserve Unit based in Bay City, SFC Hamblin, Mrs. Pierce, Abel Pierce and Martha Elizabeth Pierce, sister of the honored serviceman.

The Daily Tribune, Monday, June 7, 1971
 

LUCILLE W. COULTER

Memorial services for Lucille W. Coulter, 79, of Alva, Fla., will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002 at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Lake Jackson, Tex., followed by interment at Hawley Cemetery, near Blessing, Tex., at 3 p.m. She died July 28, 2002.
 
She was born in Palacios on Nov. 30, 1922 to the late Roy Charles and Beatrice Bentler Wilkerson. She was a former resident of Lake Jackson.
 
Survivors include a son, Warren E. Pierce of Palacios; a daughter, Martha E. Pierce of Alva, Fla.; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
 
Memorial gifts may be made to Camp Beautification Fund, 6355 C.R. 78 West, Alva, Fla. 33920. Arrangements were by Lewers Funeral Home, Ruskin, Fla.
 
Palacios Beacon, August 7, 2002


Picture courtesy of Charles Henry Fields

 

ABEL "BINK" PIERCE

Funeral services for Abel "Bink" Pierce, 81, of Palacios, were held 2 p.m. Monday, June 17, 2002 at the First Presbyterian Church in Palacios. The Rev. Andy Blair officiated, followed by interment in Hawley Cemetery, near Blessing.

Mr. Pierce was born Nov. 26, 1920 in Galveston to the late Abel Head and Stella Yeatts Pierce, Sr. He died June 14 at Matagorda General Hospital in Bay City.

A veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy, he was a member of the Queen-Hamlin VFW Post #2467, Palacios Masonic Lodge #990 AF & AM, the Scottish Rite Temple and Palacios First Presbyterian Church. He was a retired carpenter and former building inspector for the City of Palacios.

During his tenure as building inspector, he wrote a building safety column for the Palacios Beacon. The column later became the 'Wandering Column' which ran for several years.

Survivors include the widow, Peggy Jean Pierce of Palacios; one daughter, Martha Pierce of Alva, Fla; one son, Warren Pierce of Palacios; one sister, Grace Adams of Alvin; one brother, John E. Pierce of Kenner, La.; six grandchildren, Leona Graeber of Orlando, Fla., Trey Tomas and Michelle Lodds of Mobile, Ala., Donald Pierce and Sandy Jensen of California and Patricia Pierce all of Salt Lake City, Utah; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons, John Roy Pierce and Michael A. Pierce; and a brother, Donald Y. Pierce.

Pallbearers were Luke, Dennis, Jay and Lee Hall Pierce, Trey Pierce Tomas and Walter Adams. Honorary pallbearers were members of VFW Post #2467 and Masonic Lodge #990. Arrangements were with Palacios Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Palacios Masonic Lodge #990 Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 695, Palacios, Tex. 77465.

Palacios Beacon, June 19, 2002
 

Family of John and Martha Bentler                Family of Roy C. Wilkerson and Beatrice Bentler Wilkerson
 

Family photos from Martha Pierce and Charles Henry Fields.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial rubbing courtesy of Anette Uher.