James Lano Pearce

James L Pearce Obituary James Lano Pearce died peacefully on February 9, 2011 at 91 years of age. He was born December 29, 1919 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and spent the last twelve years of his life in Costa Rica. A highly decorated WWII fighter Ace turned test pilot, Jim was the first man to break the sound barrier flying an F -86. He was the chief test pilot for North American Aviation and moved on from there to be the Assistant Program Manager for the Apollo space program. In 1967, Jim started American Marine Inc, a successful manufacturing business which is still thriving today. In addition he was a charter ship captain, airplane builder, successful land developer in Costa Rica, and wrote a book entitled, "A 20th Century Guy". Among his many accomplishments, Jim was the past President of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Chairman of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, member of the American Fighter Aces Association, the first recipient of the James H. Doolittle award, and inducted into the Carrier Aviation Test Pilots Hall of Fame in 1989. He was truly one of the "best of the best" generations of Americans. Jim is preceded in death by his beloved wife Marilynne, his two brothers Fred and Dick, and a sister Ruth. He is survived by his children, Mike Pearce(Daph), Kent Geis (Dorothy), Jeff Pearce (Cyndi), and Marsha Van Arman( Gary). He had 15 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren,and last but not least is his faithful dog "Wolfie". A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 1:00P.M. in the Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home Chapel, 5400 Village Drive, Viera, Fl . The interment will be held at Florida National Cemetery with Military Honors. In lieu of flower's the family request donations be made to: William Childs Hospice House, 381 Med Plex Parkway, Palm Bay, FL 32907. You can sign James's guest book at www.beckmanwilliamson.com