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William ‘Bill’ Foskett Bierds Jr.

Jul 22, 2018

William ‘Bill’ Foskett Bierds, Jr., was born in Nyack, New York, on July 4, 1923, and died on April 24, 2018. A memorial service will be held for him and his wife on August 4 at White Oak Baptist Church in Greenville, SC.

He was predeceased by his wife of 72 years, Virginia ‘Ginny’ Ruth Wynn Bierds. He is survived by his daughters Constance Caldwell and her husband Paul, Susan Bierds, and Nancy Mooney and her husband Joseph. He had 4 grandchildren: Evelyn Caldwell and Virginia, Benjamin & Lily Mooney. Bill was predeceased by his sister, Dorothy Cucksey of Upper Nyack, NY, and his brother, Stephen Bierds of West Chester, PA.

Bill enjoyed canoeing, camping, gardening, making furniture, working on old cars and making improvements to their home. He had wonderful energy & curiosity and used it to create and build many things.

Bill joined the army and became a pilot during World War II. He flew 70 missions in a B25 Mitchell Bomber. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with several oak leaf clusters. He met Ginny in Greenville, SC while there for training; they married in June, 1945.

He was then employed as a Laboratory Engineer. Bill worked on exciting projects such as the STEP III, the first nuclear powered electrical generator in space, a nuclear generator in Antarctica, and a floating nuclear powered electrical generating station in Mobile AL. Bill later moved his family to Nashua, NH to work for Sanders Corp, later a Lockheed subsidiary. His various projects included a lobster farm, weather balloons, and various nuclear energy projects.

When Bill retired in 1988, he and Ginny hit the road, pulling their trailer through 48 states, Canada and Mexico. Ginny had a massive stroke that same year but that did not dampen his devotion to her or their appetite for adventure. In 2002, they parked in a lovely spot in Mobile, AL, and called it home. Bill continued to be busy, helping to manage the campground and making improvements where needed. They played cribbage and casino every day, and loved eating out, especially at Felix’s Fish Camp, eating dessert first. After his beloved Ginny passed, his health began to fail, but he continued to be cheerful, curious, and determined. He was admired by all who knew him.