John E. Pickard

BURLINGTON - John E. Pickard, age 87, a native of Burlington, and who lived in New Bern, passed away Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 3 a.m. following a year and a half of failing health.

A native of Alamance County, he was the husband of the late Christine C. Smith Pickard, and the son of the late Morris Clyde and Bertie Bell Thompson Pickard. He was a former long-term employee of Pet Dairy in Burlington, and then owned & operated Wiles Self Service Grocery Store located at the intersection of Tucker and Morehead Street. He later worked at Burlington Electric Co. and at the Dan River Plant. He was a member of Davis Street United Methodist Church in Burlington and attended Garber United Methodist Church in New Bern.

Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Winona Black of Graham with whom he made his home after moving from New Bern; one son, John E. Pickard Jr. and wife Brenda of Asheville, and one daughter, Carolyn Lee Pickard Truluck of New Bern; four grandchildren, Rachel Pickard Rathbone, John E. Pickard III, and Matthew P. Pickard of the Asheville area, and Sara Truluck Battersby of New Bern. He has six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Marvin C. Pickard, and his wife, Connie Pitts Pickard.

The funeral service will be conducted in the Rich & Thompson Chapel in Burlington on Saturday, August 18, 2012, at 2 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 12:30 to 2 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Pine Hill Cemetery at the Pickard/Thompson gravesite area.

Memorials may be made to Davis Street United Methodist Church, 606 E. Davis St., Burlington, NC 27215, and/or Hospice of Alamance-Caswell.

Condolences may be offered at www.richardthompson.com.