Bryce March

Longtime Southeast Missouri State University professor and administrator Dr. Bryce Darius March died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016.

Born on the 4th of July in 1926 on a farm near Fruitland, he was 90 years old. He lived almost all of those years in Cape Girardeau County with his wife of 66 years, Dorothy Ross March. At the time of his death, Bryce and Dorothy resided at the Chateau Girardeau.

Bryce March was a lifelong educator, a passionate aviator, a naval officer, a world traveler, a leader in his church and community and, above all, a devoted husband and father. In addition to his wife, he leaves behind three children, Merri (Mark) Abels of St. Louis, Melissa (Stephen) Gallant of Atlanta and Stephen (Jennifer) March of St. Louis, and a sister, Janthia (Pete) Chiabaudo of Culver City, California. Bryce also leaves behind seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A 1950 graduate of Southeast Missouri State, Bryce returned to his alma mater as a teacher in 1956. He also served as an assistant to president Mark Scully and played a key role in planning and fundraising for the university's future. He earned his doctorate from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1961. In 1967, Bryce was named chair of the Industrial and Technical Education Department. He retired from Southeast in 1982 after 26 years at the university and 33 years as an educator.

Flying was Bryce's passion. As a high-school student (Jackson High, class of 1944), he sold the pelts of rabbits he had hunted to raise money for flying lessons, and while still in high school, soloed his first Piper Cub.

Bryce completed combat air crew training in the Navy and later served as a training officer in reserve transport and patrol squadrons in Hawaii, Spain, Panama, Puerto Rico, Morocco and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He retired with the rank of commander after a distinguished 42-year career in the Navy and Navy Reserve.

As a civilian aviator, Bryce held a commercial pilot certificate with instrument and multi-engine ratings. He was a certificated flight instructor and a familiar face around Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, where he taught many would-be area pilots, including two of his children. He was the faculty sponsor of Southeast's Flying Indians flying club, and he took fatherly pride in reminiscing about club members who went on to careers in aviation.

Bryce was proud to have visited all 50 states and 20 foreign countries, travels he charted on wall maps in the lower level of the longtime family home on Kage Road. Many of these visits, and many treasured family memories, came on long summer road trips in the family station wagon, the back of which served as a mobile dormitory for the March children.

Bryce and Dorothy were longtime members of Centenary United Methodist Church, where Bryce served as Men's Club president, Sunday School superintendent and on the Board of Trustees. He was a member of Rotary International for more than 50 years, recognized for his service with Rotarian of the Year and Distinguished Service awards.

Someone once said about the late Will Rogers that there were no strangers in his world, only friends he hadn't made yet. The same can be said of Bryce March, who had a marvelous gift for finding something in common with everyone he met and striking up instant friendships. His many friends already miss him.

Following a private interment service at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, the family will welcome friends to a memorial service celebrating Bryce's life at 10 a.m. Thursday at Centenary United Methodist Church. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Kingdom House of St. Louis, The Salvation Army or a charity of their choice.

Online condolences may be shared at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.