John Picken

1922 - 2018

John Picken, 96, of Avon Lake, passed away Thursday, December 20, 2018 at Hospice of the Western Reserve, Westlake after a short illness.
He was born February 18, 1922 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, emigrating to the United States when he was seven years old. John’s family eventually settled in Avon Lake where he spent his formative years and lived his entire life until his passing.
John proudly served in the United States Army during World War II in the Panama Canal Zone. After returning from the war, he was introduced to the love of his life, Ellanore Thomas, by his sister, Isabelle. He was immediately smitten, and after one date, he saw his destiny and proposed to Ellanore (although he would later claim that he thought her father was rich).
John spent his career at The Illuminating Company and the BF Goodrich Company in Avon Lake before retiring.
John also served the City of Avon Lake as he was elected to the city council and was mayor of Avon Lake from 1961 to 1969. Several Avon Lake parks, the municipal pool, sewer system projects and the water treatment plant were initiated during his tenure in office.
John was an active member of American Legion Post 211 and Mid-Century Lodge #725. His daughters and granddaughters would also attest that he was a darn good dancer as he often twirled with them in the living room to the musical stylings of Nat King Cole. John loved his family, his city, and was an avid fan of Avon Lake Shoremen Football and the Cleveland Indians.
John Picken is the beloved father of Thomas and Kathe (Kubina) Picken, Janet and Ronald Pallinger, Robert and Leslie (Klein) Picken, Nancy May, Pamela and Denis Strang, and John Picken; cherished grandfather of Dawn Picken, Heather Picken, Corey and Bridget (McEndree) Pallinger, Ryan Pallinger, Julie and Jason Eaton, Conor and Katherine (Lassiter) Picken, Tyson and Karen (Leavitt) Picken, Dary and Danielle (Dodson) Picken, Chelsea Picken, David and Heather (Menzie) May, and Elizabeth and Santino Zingales; treasured great-grandfather of Fiona and Finley Stanelun, Mirabella and Santino Zingales, Shaylee and Harrison Eaton, Quentin Picken, and Henry May.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Ellanore; his parents, Robert and Ruth (Foster); his brother, James Steele; and his sisters, Molly (Markling), Isabelle (Urig) and Margaret (Peggy).
Friends may call at the Busch Funeral Home, 163 Avon-Belden Road, Avon Lake from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, December 28.
Services will be held at the funeral home Saturday, December 29 at 10 a.m.. Rev. Dr. Kelly Brill will officiate. Interment will be at Resthaven Memory Gardens, Avon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cleveland Sight Center www.clevelandsightcenter.org or Hospice of the Western Reserve www.hospicewr.org.
For more information or to leave an online condolence visit www.buschfuneral.com