Obituary: Richard Lee Pierson
He was a lifelong fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bengals. He spent the majority of his retired years playing guitar, fishing and watching football.
Richard "Dick" Lee Pierson, age 84, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at Woodland Country Manor surrounded by his family’s love.
A lifelong resident of Oxford and Talawanda High School Class of 1960, he was born Dec. 16, 1941 to the late Roy and Emily (Havens) Pierson.
In September of 1960, he proudly joined the United States Army and was stationed in Korea and Okinawa, Japan as a power generator specialist in the 459th Signal Battalion. He was honorably discharged as specialist fourth class (SP4) in May 1966. In 1966, he returned to Oxford and worked as a mechanic for a short time. He then went on to work for the City of Oxford water department, retiring after 27 years.
On March 5, 1967, he married his lifelong love, Dorothy Selby. They were blessed with three children. He was a lifelong fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bengals. He spent the majority of his retired years playing guitar, fishing and watching football.
Although Dorothy was his first love, a close second was playing guitar. He wouldn’t miss a day of picking. He was in several country bands throughout the years. His love of guitar also led him to playing in the band at Harmony Living Word Assembly in Bath, Indiana for the last 12 years. He was also a member of the group who met daily at McDonald’s to “solve the world’s problems.”
He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Emily, an infant son Rickie and two brothers, Donald and Clifford.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy; two daughters, Kristie Pierson of Oxford and Vickie (Stacey) Moore of Liberty, Indiana; two grandchildren, Mandie (Nate) George of Franklin, Ohio and Skylar Gwilt of Indianapolis, Indiana; two siblings, Helen Pitman of Oxford and David (Crystal) Pierson of Mansfield, Ohio. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, other family, close friends and band members.
This obituary was originally published by Paul R. Young Funeral Home.
