Homer Wilson Piper
Homer Wilson Piper, age 94, passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2018.
He was born on September 29, 1923, on Staten Island, New York City. Homer was raised in the Panama Canal Zone; his father worked for the Panama Canal Administration. After graduating from Balboa High School, Homer enlisted in the Army Air Corps and completed several years of training before being deployed In February 1945 and assigned to the Eighth Air Force, 493rd Bomb Group, based in Debach, Suffolk, England. SSgt Homer Piper was a togglier and armorer gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. After discharge from active duty, Homer graduated from Sioux Falls College, where he met his future wife, Carolyn Marie Loewer.
Homer’s career began with the Red Owl grocery store, then the ArcherDaniels-Midland Company in Minneapolis, and finally, after being transferred to Columbus, Ohio, as a property accountant for Ashland Chemical Company. While in Columbus, Homer and his family attended the University Baptist Church, where he served as treasurer for a number of years. He also enjoyed bowling in a corporate league with ADM and Ashland Chemical, earning League Champion status several times. Upon retirement, Homer moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Throughout his life, Homer enjoyed traveling in the US – visiting almost all 50 states. After moving to New Mexico, Homer expanded his travels to include several international cruises. He revisited the Panama Canal and the Debach airfield in England. He also became active in the Panama Canal Society and the 8th Air Force Historical Society, attending reunions whenever possible. Another endeavor he enjoyed was working on his family history. Through much research, Homer was able to trace his ancestors back to the early 1600s in Northam, Devon, England.
Homer was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Leidy and Ella Safrona (Titus) Piper; his brother, Raymond Burton Piper; his former wife, Carolyn Piper Gearhart; and his son-inlaw, Thomas Ryburn Taylor.
He is survived by his four children: Raymond Titus Piper (Barbara), Mary June-el Piper, Oliva P. Riley (Jonathan), and Laura Piper Taylor, as well as five grandchildren: Morgen Piper, Amanda Taylor, Wilson Taylor, Megan Hunter (Andy), and David Riley.
Friends are invited to join Homer’s family in enjoying the sounds of the Watermelon Mountain Jug Band at O’Neill’s on Central Avenue in Albuquerque from 47pm on Sunday June 10, 2018. All are invited to the interment at 11:15am on Monday, June 11, 2018, at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, 501 N. Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, NM.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to either the Eighth Air Force Historical Society, 68 Kimberlys Way, Jasper, GA 30143 or BambooB end.org, a suicide preventi on/mental health program for war veterans who make their own high-quality bamboo fly rods and build goodness with handcrafted healing.