Robert E. Pierce

Robert E. Pierce, 94, went to be with the Lord on February 19, 2025. He passed away peacefully at Shenango On The Green Senior Home in New Wilmington, PA.

The son of the late Floyd and Millie Pierce, he was born in Oil City and graduated from Oil City High School in 1948.  He was an Eagle Scout, a graduate of the General Electric 4 yr. Apprentice Machinist Training Program and a U.S. Navy Veteran. 

Bob married his high school sweetheart Lois Lenser in 1952. He received a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. where he studied under a GE Steinmetz scholarship, and a Master of Arts in Mathematics and Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.  He also worked as a Research Engineer at the Ordnance Research Laboratory (ORL) at Penn State, specializing in underwater research and development of weapon systems. 

In 1972, Dr. Pierce accepted a professorship at Penn State Erie-Behrend Campus, where he was involved with introducing a new engineering program offered by the college. He was a founder and director of the Lake Erie Institute for Marine Science, a research organization consisting of faculty from Gannon University, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Penn State at Erie-Behrend College. Through this organization, he proposed and was awarded a multi-year grant from the National Sea Grant Program to conduct wave attenuation studies in Lake Erie. Successful completion of this research effort was necessary and sufficient for Penn State Erie to be designated as the National Sea Grant Program Office for the State of Pennsylvania. Dr. Pierce retired as a professor of electrical engineering and computer science in 1989 upon completing 30 years of service at Penn State University.

Upon retirement, he and his wife Lois spent summer months in Oil City at their cottage along the scenic Allegheny River and winter months at their home in Indian Lake Estates, FL.  Bob was a Christian by faith and attended President Chapel in Tionesta and Indian Lake United Methodist Church in FL.

Bob enjoyed teaching students engineering skills, boating and swimming in the Allegheny River, bicycling in Venango County, designing and building a floating tire breakwater, restoring his Model A Ford car, remodeling his cottage, building a hovercraft, boating on the Erie Canal and the Ohio River, and spending time with family and friends.

Bob is survived by his wife of 72 years, Lois; a cousin Ken Fay; three daughters, Betsy Pierce of Havre De Grace MD, Karen Schriefer & her husband Ed of Waco, TX and Sally Turner & her husband Mark of Philipsburg, PA and one son, Mark Pierce and his wife Carolee of Coraopolis, PA; eight grandchildren Morgan VanOuse, Devon Turner, Sydney Turner and Lauren Turner, Kaylee Pierce, Jimmy Pierce, McKenna Pierce and Jackson Pierce; and two great-grandchildren Abram Turner and Isaac Turner.

In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his brother, Dean Pierce.

Friends will be received at Reinsel Funeral Home, 116 Bissell Ave, Oil City on Friday, February 28 from 11:30 am to 1 pm. 

A funeral service will follow from the funeral home at 1 pm. with Pastor Ronald Hunsberger officiating.  Interment will be in Grove Hill Cemetery.

A reception will follow the burial with details to be provided.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to:  President Chapel, 230 President Village, Tionesta, PA 16353.

Condolences may be sent at www.reinselfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert E. Pierce, please visit our floral store.