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Robert Theodore Alston Pifer, 89 died Wednesday, March 10, 2010 after several years of declining health. He was born in Parsons, West Virginia to the late Clarence Bishop Pifer and Mildred Weaver Pifer.
Bob is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mildred Morgan Pifer, a daughter, Deborah Pifer Shearin (Wallace) of Burlington; sons, Robert Theodore Alston Pifer, Jr. and Martin Alan Pifer, both of Durham. He has two grandchildren, Laura S. Brown (Joseph) and Robert M. Shearin. He is also survived by sister-in-law, Millie F. Pifer; a cousin, Alfred Winters; nieces and nephews, Ron Pifer (Patrice), Judy P. Havercamp (Dr. John), Jim Pifer, Carol B. Dixon, Sandra B. Greene and Sherry B. Holtzclaw (Dr. Jim). He was preceded in death by his brother Lewis Weaver Pifer and sister, Melba Pifer Bartholomew Reeves.
Bob will be remembered most fondly for his ever present sense of humor, always ready with a joke, even in the last years of his life. He had a heart for helping out people wherever he could, and an uncanny ability to fix or repair just about anything.
After moving to Durham in 1926, he graduated from Durham High School class of 1939 and Duke University class of 1943. He joined the Navy in 1943 and received his Wings at Pensacola, Florida in 1943 and later became an instructor. During World War II, he was a VR1 NATC Transport Pilot out of Pautaxent River. After the war he continued in the Navy Reserves until 1950. In 1950, he was called into active duty in the Korean War where he flew UP-861, UP-10 & PV2 Bombers. Upon his return to the States he remained in the Naval Reserves and retired in 1980 as a LCDR of the United States Naval Reserves.
After World War II, Bob returned to Durham where he and his brother, Lewis founded Pifer Industries, Inc. and served as Secretary-Treasurer from 1946- 1976. He served as President –Treasurer of Pifer Investment Co. from 1946 – 1976. After leaving Pifer Industries, Inc., he founded Robert Pifer Metal Fabricators, where they made products for many national companies and patented several products. After retiring in the 80’s, Bob’s employees gave him the “Boss of the Decade Award” which touched him deeply.
Bob’s love for flying, lead him to serve on the Durham Chamber of Commerce Aviation Committee as chairman. Later he was appointed by 3 governors as Secretary of the Aeronautic Council, North Carolina Department of Transportation, where he served for 13 years. He was instrumental in getting airports built and existing airports improved to attract businesses to the state of North Carolina.
Bob was a lifetime member of the Methodist Church, starting at Parson’s Methodist Church on Pifer Mountain, West Virginia. After moving to Durham, he and his family joined Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, where the church and music became very important elements of his life. As a teen he was a member of the Boy Scouts and later became a member of the choir for 58 years. He served on the Board of Stewards, member of the Finance Committee, member of the Building Committee for the new Sunday School Building, Committee to Rebuild the Sanctuary, in charge of repairing the old Estes Organ, President of the Selection Committee for the New Holtkamp Organ and President of the Church Choir.
Duke University was dear to Bob’s heart and he was a staunch Blue Devil Fan. He was a lifetime Iron Duke member and worked tirelessly with Football Coach Mike McGhee and Basketball Coach Bill Foster in the 70’s to help them rebuild their programs. University President Terry Sanford called on Bob several times to assist on projects that would improve the university and he eagerly did.
The family will receive friends 6:30-8:30 PM Friday at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. The funeral will be 2:00 PM, Saturday at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, with Pastors Ruth Harper Stevens and Roger Owen presiding. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Alex Poe, Bill Self, Laney Funderburk, Barry Shuler, Kevin McDonald and Van Clark.
Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, 504 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham, 27701 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 41912, Raleigh, NC 27629-1912. On line memorials www.hallwynne.com, select obituaries.
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