Stuart Lathrop Pierson died on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at Cedarhurst Senior Living in Springfield, Missouri. He was 102 years old. Mr. Pierson was born April 28, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Newbold and Helen (Colter) Pierson. He was married on September 5, 1947 to Ann Widmer. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson spent many years in Webster Groves, Missouri, where they both grew up and graduated from Webster Groves High School, and where they raised their family. They moved to Lake in the Hills, Illinois in 1975 and to Springfield, Missouri in 2000. Following Mrs. Pierson's death in 2001, Mr. Pierson married Gloria Dixon on September 10, 2002. They resided in Springfield and Nixa, Missouri. Mr. Pierson is survived by his son Stephen and daughter-in-law Connie, Springfield, MO; his son David, Concord, MA; his daughter Sally Blumenfeld and son-in-law John Blumenfeld, Mendota Heights, MN; a sister, Polly Lucas; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife Ann and his wife Gloria; by three brothers, Colter, Aaron and Daniel; and by a sister, Margaret. Mr. Pierson attended Georgia Tech and Washington University in St. Louis, where he graduated with a BSME degree. For forty years Mr. Pierson worked for a variety of companies selling mechanical equipment. During World War II, Mr. Pierson served in the United States Army Air Force, where he was the rank of sergeant. His service included time on Ascension Island in the south Atlantic Ocean working at the USAAF's first large-scale testng center for growing vegetables using the hydroponics method. Mr. Pierson was one of two servicemen responsible for making the water-based nutrient solution for growing the vegetables. The hydroponics farm was a great success and provided vegetables to the troops stationed on the island, the arid, volcanic soil of which was too poor to grow plants using normal methods. There will be no visitation. A private Celebration of Life will be held for immediate family. The family asks that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to the donor's favorite charity.