WILLIAM L. PEARSALL SR.
Died Dec. 18, 2012
GARLAND -- Mr. William L. Pearsall Sr., 79, 1015 Davis Road, died Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at his residence.
Mr. Pearsall was the son of the late Sallie Sasser and Wilbert Pearsall.
He began is working career as a small boy in Wayne County, struggling behind a mule and plow. He never stopped working after that.
He was a veteran of the United Sates Army, and served during the Korean War.
After his honorable discharge, he worked for a short time as a steelworker in Detroit for Ford Motor Co.
Later he became a bus driver for Greyhound Bus Co. As a driver, he drove more then one million miles in 32 years and never had an accident, one of the most amazing safety records ever achieved by a driver.
In later years he was elected vice president of Local 1303 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, and represented his fellow bus drivers for more than 10 years in Chicago, Ill.
Even after retiring from Greyhound he wouldn't stop working. When he came back to North Carolina, his working spirit was still going. He spent the last working days for Mack Rich Trucking of Garland.
At the time of his death he was 32nd degree mason.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, at Carter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Thomas Moore officiating. Burial will follow in Garland Cemetery.
Mr. Pearsall is survived by two daughters, Katherine Ross and Deborah Hillestad both of Garland; four sons, William Pearsall Jr. of Garland, David Pearsall of Pikeville, Lawrence Pearsall of Beloit, Wis., and James Pearsall of Smithfield; 20 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, at Carter Funeral Home in Garland.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriners Children's Hospital.
Online condolences may be sent www.carterfh.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on December 20, 2012 1:48 PM