Walt Pearson

(From Parker Mortuary)

Walter G. ‘Walt’ Pearson, age 89, Joplin, passed away at 3:02 p.m. Saturday, November 15, 2014 at his home.

Walt was born September 26, 1925 in San Francisco, California to the late Graham Booker Pearson and Dora May Ohrt Pearson and had lived in the Joplin area most of his life.

He graduated from Polytechnic High school in San Francisco in 1943. He then enlisted in the United States Army, serving 1 year as a drill instructor at Camp Crowder. He then served three and a half years in China; India and Burma (India Burma Theater of Operations).

Walt attended San Francisco City College; Foothill College; Southwest Missouri State University; Missouri Southern State College; Pittsburg State University; the University of Missouri and received an honorary degree from Stewart University in Alabama.

He worked as a teacher for the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Corporate Industry Schools; McDonald County High School and Franklin Technical School for 29 years. He also worked as a field service engineer for Chrysler Corporation for five years, retiring in 1986.

Walt served as education vice president of Gavelmasters and was a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association; the Joplin Educators Association; the Missouri Vocational Association; the American Vocational Association; the U.S. Metric Association and was a National Board Member of the American Vocational Association. He was a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church and a current member of Fellowship Baptist Church. He was a Bible teacher; ordained minister and former chairman of Deacons.

He married CloAnn ‘Penny’ Shipman on June 7, 1947 in Galena, Kansas. She preceded him in death on November 4, 1995.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Mark Graham Pearson in March of 2014.

Services are planned for Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary Chapel. Interment will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from Noon until service time Saturday at the mortuary.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.