Obituary for Walter Keith Pickard
Walter Keith Pickard was born October 12, 1928 to Clarence and Esther Pickard (List) in Buffalo, New York. He weighed 6 pounds and 13 ounces. His father said he got his large head from him and would need a 7 1/2 hat and he did! He has 1 brother Bruce Pickard who was born July 4, 1938. They had a close relationship that both brothers cherished. His family moved to Columbus, Ohio where his father worked for Aetna Insurance. He went to school in Columbus and graduated from High School there and went to Ohio State. One of his jobs was at a restaurant on campus at Ohio State. He loved singing and was in the Columbus Light Opera Company in 1949 and had a leading role in the play “Good News”. It was there he met Barbara Craig who was a friend of Ruth Evelyn Deckard. Barbara went to church with Evelyn. She introduced the 2 of them in 1950. They later married at Whitehall Methodist Church on March 11, 1951. Keith started working for North American Aviation, in Columbus OH in 1950-1951 and took a leave when he went into active military duty October 22, 1951 with the Marines and was stationed in Cherry Point, North Carolina. His wife Evelyn then joined him there. While they were living there their first child Catherine Lee was born. He was given an Honorable Discharge October 21, 1953. They moved back to Columbus, Ohio where Barbara Jean and Karen Ruth were born.
He returned to working with North American Aviation which is now known as Boeing. In the years he worked for them he was in purchasing and one of his accomplishments included contracting with cities along the route to move the first shuttle when it was completed from Seal Beach to Palmdale, Ca where it flew to Florida. He was excited to see it take off to Florida. He also ordered patches for the Astronaut’s space suits. One Christmas he received a Space Pen with a turtle on it that only Astronauts were able to get. While working for Boeing he and his family lived in Columbus, Ohio; Anaheim, CA and La Porte, TX. He took a couple of years off to work at RBDH a religious book publisher in Grand Rapids, MI. He went back to working at Boeing until he retired, and went to work with the Riverside School District and retired from there after 10 years.
He and his wife loved attending church and he loved singing in all their choirs. They attended Clinton Heights Lutheran in Columbus, OH, Lamb of God in Anaheim, Faith Lutheran in Riverside, and St John’s Lutheran in Orange but he always considered Trinity Lutheran Church in Anaheim his church home. He and Evelyn moved to St. George, Utah. They loved their church Trinity and the many friends they made there. While they lived there his daughter Karen gave them their dog Oscar. Oscar was family to them and they both loved him dearly. Oscar was his companion until the end. Oscar is living with Lindsay and Jessica Weyman, granddaughters of Keith.
He enjoyed his many grandchildren. Lisa, Michael, Danny and Nathan and wife Julie, children of Catherine and Tom. Stephen, Christin, Stacey and Richard children of Barbara and Doug, and Jessica and Lindsay children of Karen and Grant. Great Grandchildren include Maddie, Savannah and Emmett children of Lisa and Jason. Aiden child of Michael and Chelsea. Adeline child of Christin and Barry. Dean and Ethan children of Stacey and Jeff. Raygin, Evielyn, Stanton and Kyson children of Stephen and Katie.
Keith loved to travel with Evelyn. They loved their trips to Hawaii, Palm Springs and Tahoe and sitting and watching the boats at Dana Point. Keith loved his evening talks with Evelyn and watching golf with her. He watched the Ohio State and Michigan football game every year. They loved going to Polly’s Pies and Olive Garden and all the servers there. He loved his morning coffee and bingo afternoons. His faith was strong and he shared his faith with the people he lived with. We take comfort that he is in heaven with the Lord.
He returned to working with North American Aviation which is now known as Boeing. In the years he worked for them he was in purchasing and one of his accomplishments included contracting with cities along the route to move the first shuttle when it was completed from Seal Beach to Palmdale, Ca where it flew to Florida. He was excited to see it take off to Florida. He also ordered patches for the Astronaut’s space suits. One Christmas he received a Space Pen with a turtle on it that only Astronauts were able to get. While working for Boeing he and his family lived in Columbus, Ohio; Anaheim, CA and La Porte, TX. He took a couple of years off to work at RBDH a religious book publisher in Grand Rapids, MI. He went back to working at Boeing until he retired, and went to work with the Riverside School District and retired from there after 10 years.
He and his wife loved attending church and he loved singing in all their choirs. They attended Clinton Heights Lutheran in Columbus, OH, Lamb of God in Anaheim, Faith Lutheran in Riverside, and St John’s Lutheran in Orange but he always considered Trinity Lutheran Church in Anaheim his church home. He and Evelyn moved to St. George, Utah. They loved their church Trinity and the many friends they made there. While they lived there his daughter Karen gave them their dog Oscar. Oscar was family to them and they both loved him dearly. Oscar was his companion until the end. Oscar is living with Lindsay and Jessica Weyman, granddaughters of Keith.
He enjoyed his many grandchildren. Lisa, Michael, Danny and Nathan and wife Julie, children of Catherine and Tom. Stephen, Christin, Stacey and Richard children of Barbara and Doug, and Jessica and Lindsay children of Karen and Grant. Great Grandchildren include Maddie, Savannah and Emmett children of Lisa and Jason. Aiden child of Michael and Chelsea. Adeline child of Christin and Barry. Dean and Ethan children of Stacey and Jeff. Raygin, Evielyn, Stanton and Kyson children of Stephen and Katie.
Keith loved to travel with Evelyn. They loved their trips to Hawaii, Palm Springs and Tahoe and sitting and watching the boats at Dana Point. Keith loved his evening talks with Evelyn and watching golf with her. He watched the Ohio State and Michigan football game every year. They loved going to Polly’s Pies and Olive Garden and all the servers there. He loved his morning coffee and bingo afternoons. His faith was strong and he shared his faith with the people he lived with. We take comfort that he is in heaven with the Lord.