William “Bill” Pickering

William “Bill” Pickering, a long-time resident of Hoschton, GA, passed away quietly on Tuesday, September 16, 2015. He was 89 years old.

Mr. Pickering’s long life began in Plymouth, Pennsylvania on May 11, 1926. At the age of seven, following the death of his Father, his beloved Mother provided the best possible care for her son during the Great Depression and placed him at Girard College in Philadelphia, a school providing boarding school education from grades one through twelve for orphaned and fatherless boys. Three years later, his Mother passed away as well.

Upon graduating from Girard College, at the age of seventeen, Mr. Pickering volunteered for military service in the Navy, serving aboard several military carriers, most notably the L.S.T. 1079 as head of its engine room. During his two years of military service, he landed on Iwo Jima on Day Two of the land invasion, where he wore a New York Yankees baseball cap after his helmet was lost. He also was at Okinawa and Guadalcanal during his military service.

Following his military service, Mr. Pickering attended Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA; and subsequently graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. He worked at Mobil Oil Company for two years, where he met his beautiful wife, Jan; and found his professional home at Cities Service Oil Company (Citgo Petroleum), where he worked for thirty years before retiring as the Administration Manager of Pipeline Transportation Services. During his career with Cities Service, Mr. Pickering worked in Philadelphia, PA; Baltimore, MD; Richmond, VA; Atlanta, GA; and Tulsa, OK. Upon retirement in 1982, he and his wife moved to Gwinnett County, GA.

It was Bill’s love and appreciation for family, rooted in his challenging early life experiences, which would shape him. His family was always paramount. He was a loving and devoted husband and father to his wife of forty-eight years, Jan, and his two daughters, Jan and Nancy. The family grew to include seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

It was said of Bill that he truly never met a stranger. In addition to his love of family, he was known for his integrity, intellect, dry wit, kindness, and his love of football, baseball, and golf. For eight years, Bill joyfully worked as a Marshall at Reunion Golf Course in Hoschton, GA.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Janice Fickel and her husband, Todd Fickel; his daughter, Nancy Pickering-Bernheim and her husband, Tom Bernheim; grandchildren Lauren Buker and her husband Jason Buker; Anthony Pappas and his wife Jean Pappas; Lindsey Lynes and her husband Daniel Lynes; Philip Pappas and his wife Tenile Pappas; Ryan Fickel and his girlfriend, Deirdre Lohn; Elizabeth Andosca and her boyfriend Felix Kaufmann; and Emily Andosca; and great-grandchildren Kaitlyn Buker, Chase Buker, and Holden Lynes.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015, at Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, 4400 S. Lee Street, Buford, Georgia, at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will be held preceding the services at Flanigan’s at 3:00 p.m.

In memory of William H. Pickering’44, the family requests that a donation be made to the William H. Pickering’44 Memorial Fund at Girard College Development Fund located at:

Girard College Development Fund

2101 South College Avenue, Box 307

Philadelphia, PA  19121

A note will be sent to the Pickering Family informing them of the donation.

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements by:  Junior E. Flanigan, Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.