William L. Vierling

William L. Vierling, Sr., 100, of Biloxi passed away on July 8, 2023. Mr. Vierling was a native of the Gulf Coast. He was born in Hansboro and lived in Biloxi for most of his life. A tornado from Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home near the beach and he and his wife moved to North Biloxi at that time. 

Mr. Vierling was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Iris Puzz Vierling; parents, William A. Vierling and Louise Parker Vierling; and his sister, Phala Alves. He is survived by his children, sons William L. Vierling, Jr. (Salinee), James R. Vierling (Jantima), both living in Thailand, and daughter Maureen McCann (John) of Vancleave; grandchildren, Richard Coursey (Agnes), Michael Coursey, Ilse Trauth (Rick), William A. Vierling, Jennifer Ford (Walter) all of Louisiana, Sam Vierling and Anna Lisa Vierling of Thailand, Victoria Diaz (Vicente) of Connecticut, Drew Vierling (Patty) of Lubbock, TX, Kathryn McCann of Vancleave and Allison Causey (Roy) of Gautier, MS; as well as many great and great-great-grandchildren. 

Mr. Vierling graduated from Biloxi H. S. in 1941 and then attended Perkinston Jr. College. He joined the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to the Amphibious Forces as an instructor and was deployed to Okinawa. At discharge he was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with a Bronze Battle Star, the American Theater medal, the Victory Medal and an Honorable Discharge. After the war, he attended the University of Southern Mississippi and received a B.S. degree in Math and a M.A. degree in Counseling. Later he completed additional post-graduate work at U.S.M., Mississippi College, Mississippi State and the University of Mississippi. He was awarded a National Science Foundation Scholarship in 1963. 

Mr. Vierling's career included three and one-half years in the Navy, six years in industry and thirty-two and one-half years in education, retiring in 1987 as Dean of Student Services at Jefferson Davis Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Mr. Vierling was a member of numerous organizations including the Jaycees, the Mississippi Education Association, the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce, the Biloxi and Edgewater Rotary Clubs, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, State Deans of Student Services, Alumni Associations and the State Red Red Rose Organization for educational administrators. He was a 3-gallon blood donor for the American Red Cross. 

In lieu of flowers, Mr. Vierling prefers memorials to be sent to MGCCC Foundation, 2226 Switzer Rd. Gulfport, MS 39507. 

Funeral service will be Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue in Biloxi. Friends may visit one hour prior. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of William L. Vierling, Sr.