Pearson, Willard Vance

Willard Vance Pearson, 79, 1210 15th St. SW, flew home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital. Services: Saturday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m. at Edgewood Family Fellowship by Pastor Craig Bex. Burial: 1 p.m. Monday at Martinstown Cemetery, Martinstown, Mo. Friends may visit Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday after 10 a.m. at Edgewood Family Fellowship. Masonic services will be performed by Crescent Lodge 25 at 7 p.m. Friday. Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.

Willard is survived by his wife, Mary Etta Pearson of Cedar Rapids; seven children, Ronda, Julie, Mark, Bill, Jean, John and James; nine grandchildren, Alex, Brent, Craig, Christin, Collin, Christian, Wesley, Branson and Aurora; and five great-grandchildren, Kaleb, Katelyn, Ky, Alicette and Jacobi.

Willard's brother, James, preceded him in death.

Willard was born June 3, 1930, in Graysville, Mo., the son of Christian Vance and Erma Luela (Miller) Pearson. Willard served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, the Iowa National Guard for 10 years, and was a U.S. Army Reservist for six years. He was educated in the Putnam County, Mo., schools; received his B.S. in 1957 from Truman University, Kirksville, Mo., and his M.A. from the University of Iowa. He taught school for 30 years in Missouri, Illinois, Davenport and Cedar Rapids, and was a retired member of Carpenters Local 308. He was 50-year member of Hartford Masonic Lodge and a member of Edgewood Family Fellowship of Cedar Rapids.

Willard was passionate about his family, his faith, Free Masonry, baseball and flying. He was very patriotic and a lifelong student of history. He loved nature, collected eagles and typewriters, and would strike up a conversation with most anyone he met. He enjoyed playing cribbage and working word puzzles.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

Memorials may be directed to family.