Daniel Pierson Waring Jr., loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014.  He was 94.

Born May 14, 1920, to Daniel Pierson Waring Sr. and Katherine Dornbusch Waring, he was a native and lifelong resident of Vicksburg.  He was the oldest of eight children.

After graduating from Carr Central High School in 1938, D.P. entered Mississippi State College, where he was a charter member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He finished college in 1942 with a degree in Business Administration.

After graduation, he entered the Navy as an ensign in the supply corps. He received his training at Harvard, and was later on staff at Cornell University. In 1944, he deployed on a Navy tanker, the Maniponi, until he was discharged as a lieutenant in June 1946. D.P. served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II.

After serving his country for four years, D.P. returned home and became a partner in Vicksburg Oil and Gas Company.  He was a founding owner of Waring Oil Company and Neill Gas.

D.P. was also very active in his community serving on numerous boards and committees including the Chamber of Commerce, the Committee of 100, the Board of Directors of First National Bank of Vicksburg, The Merchants Company, Vicksburg Downtowner Motor Inn, Big River Shipbuilders, River Barges Inc., South Central Manufacturing Co., Halls Ferry Inc., Ole Man River Towing and Terminal Warehouse Inc. He was a lifelong member of Crawford Street United Methodist Church.

D.P. was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty Jeanne Williams Waring; two brothers, Bobby Waring and Albert Waring and one sister, Betty Aden.

Survivors include his wife, Lee Kennedy Waring; two sons, Daniel Pierson Waring III, (Janice Gerache) and Howard Charles Waring (Belynda Lyons), and his daughter, Natalie Waring Bailess (Bobby), all of Vicksburg; a stepson, Jon Martin Windham (Jonna Jones) of Ocean Springs; 13 grandchildren, Jana Waring Kane (Regan), Ryan Waring Cook (Clint), Jill Waring Upchurch (Keith), Russ Bailess (Gretchen), Katherine Bailess, Becca Bailess Stewart (John Michael), Leslie Waring, Charles Waring, Natalie Waring, Pierson Waring, Wes Windham, Blake Windham and Drew Windham; and seven great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by three sisters, Katherine Silver of Greenwood, Mary Frances Denton of Jackson and Nancy Redmond (Tom) of Tampa, Fla., one brother, Jimmy Waring (Ida) of Vicksburg; nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; his mother- in-law, Ruby McGee Kennedy of Newton, his sisters-in-law, Ruth Pace (John) of Baton Rouge, La., and Laura Waring of Alexandria, La.; and a brother in law, Joe Kennedy (Pam) of Newton.

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, at Crawford Street United Methodist Church with the Revs. Cary Stockett and Geoffrey Joiner officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

D.P.’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers are Jerry Beard, Jim Cook, Don Day, Bobby Fleming, Briggs Hopson, Jr., German Jordan, Don Milner, William Shappley, Charles Weissinger Jr. and Joe Kennedy, as well as the employees of Waring Oil Company and Neill Gas.

Visitation is today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Riles Funeral Home.

The family gives thanks to D.P.’s devoted doctors, Sam Pierce, Paul Pierce and Dan Edney, the amazing staff at River Region Health System and Promise Hospital, and to his caregivers, Jeraldine Harris, Rose Hunter, Shea Hunter, Rosie Washington, and Mattie and Bill Green.

The family requests memorials be made to Crawford Street United Methodist Church, 900 Crawford Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 39180 or to your favorite charity.