"My father, who preceded Bob as President of the National Coil Coaters Association, had a tremendous amount of affection for him. I remember fondly meeting Bob for dinner with my Dad in Indianapolis (I believe the last time was at a Japanese Steak House. I am sorry about your loss and just learned about Bob's passing. On behalf of my Dad (who passed away in 2004) I want to express my sincere condolences. Ross Harrison Georgetown University Washington, DC "
In loving memory of
J. Robert Pickering
June 27, 1926 - May 27, 2011
Ending almost 85 years of a very full life, Bob Pickering passed away from heart failure on Friday, May 27, 2011, in Tucson, Arizona.
Bob was born in Elkhart, Indiana on June 27, 1926, the eldest of two sons of Ferman and Mildred Snook Pickering. Following his graduation from Elkhart High School in 1944, Bob immediately entered the Navy where he received advanced training as an Electronics Technician and served on the USS Hamilton during World War II.
He returned home in 1946 and earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. A Masters degree in the same field followed in 1952.
While still at Purdue, Bob joined Lilly Industrial Coatings (now part of The Valspar Corporation) in what would prove to be a forty-year career. Starting as a bench chemist, Bob's drive and passion would eventually lead him to the offices of President and Chairman of the Board. As CEO from 1983 until his retirement in 1991, he restructured and more than doubled the size of this publicly-held corporation, headquartered in Indianapolis.
Bob was an industry statesman, serving as President of three trade associations: the National Paint and Coatings Association (1988), the National Coil Coaters Association (1982-3) and Paint Research Associates. He received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Heckel Award, the highest award granted by his industry peers. He also served as a director of Maxon Corporation (Muncie, IN) and Overton Industries (Mooresville, IN).
Bob loved nature and was an avid hiker and camper. Unafraid of tackling any challenge, he personally built his first family home in Indianapolis in 1955. At the age of 44, he started mountain climbing and made his first summit of the Grand Teton. He took up snow skiing at the age of 59.
After retiring Bob continued to pursue life to the fullest from his homes in Telluride, CO; Tucson, AZ; and Newport, OR. He filled his days with widely varied interests, including traveling, history and current events. He loved and mastered the art of woodworking, specializing in beautiful furniture and segmented bowls.
He is survived by his beloved and dedicated wife of 18 years Connie Pickering; his children David Pickering and Carol Sewell; son-in-law, Ed Sewell; grandsons Brad Pickering and Eddie Sewell, granddaughter-in-law Michelle Pickering,
great granddaughter Kayla Pickering, and the mother of his children Phyllis VanAbeele. He was preceded in death by his brother Louis Pickering.
A memorial service will be held in Peace Chapel at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis on Saturday, June 4, at 2pm. Friends may call from 1-2pm. A reception will follow at the Waiting Station.
In lieu of flowers and recognizing Bob's great love of the outdoors, memorial contributions may be made to Teton Science Schools at www.tetonscience.org or Hoosier Burn Camp at www.hoosierburncamp.org.
Tributes
"Thank you Bob for the positive influences you had on my life. You were a very intelligent man who instilled the values of hard work and toughness in me. I learned a lot from you and I'm very appreciative of that. Connie, Dave, Carol, Ed, Brad, Eddie and the rest of the family I'm sorry for your loss. "