Charles Donald Pickering

Beloved and esteemed brother, uncle and friend, Chief Master Sergeant (USAF, retired), Charles Donald Pickering left his home at Village Shalom for “the wild blue yonder” the final time on March 11, 2009 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Charles was born in Richmond, Missouri, January 22, 1924 to Charles Pickering and Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie/Sally” (Brockman) Pickering. He was on the cradle roll of the First Baptist Church in Richmond. As a teenager he worked at the (now historic) Farris Theater. His father died when Charles was 16. He was proud of his father’s occupation of coal miner and of his father’s ownership (with his brothers) of the Pickering Coal Company. At the age of 17, Charles joined the Army Air Force. He was later awarded his high school diploma. Charles became an airplane mechanic and later a crew chief. He served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He worked on the P-38 Lightning (his favorite airplane) and later on B-25’s and C-47’s. He served in the Pacific during World War II. During the mid 1950s he served at Sidi Slimane (then French Morocco) Air Force Base in North Africa and at Lake Charles, Louisiana. In 1957, he attended and graduated from the United States Air Forces in Europe NCO Academy in Freising, Germany. In the late 1950s he served a tour of duty in England where he watched his favorite automobile, a black Jaguar, being assembled in Coventry before he shipped it home to the States. During the 1960s, he was stationed at Whiteman AFB in Knob Noster, Missouri, Forbes AFB in Topeka, Kanansas, and Richards Gebaur in Belton, Missouri. He really loved his time in the Air Force and enjoyed visiting retirees of any of the armed forces.

In 1971, after thirty years of service, Charles retired from the Air Force. He divided his time between his then home in Grandview, Missouri, and pasture land in Linn County, Missouri and Cooper County, Missouri. He really enjoyed working outdoors digging fence post holes by hand, brush hogging with his Ford tractor or his Belarus and spreading fertilizer to feed the grass upon which his cattle tenants grazed. In 1981 he was ordained a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Grandview. He was a driver, mechanic and strong supporter of the church bus ministry. He was known by all city and farm neighbors as a gentleman, a good neighbor and always willing to help anyone in need with his time, “fix it” talent and money.

He was preceded in death by his father, his mother and a sister, Doris Jean Pickering. He is survived by a sister, Beryl Dean (Pickering) Campbell of Kansas City; a niece, Maurica Sue Campbell of Overland Park, Kansas; and a nephew, Charles Pickering Campbell of Independence, Missouri. He was supportive of
his mother, both sisters and his brother-in-law, William Morris Campbell and a wonderful, interesting and very special uncle for Maurica and Charles.

The family would like to express appreciation to ManorCare for Charles’ stay there as well as to Dr. Fredrick Short who provided care for nearly six years, both at ManorCare and Village Shalom. Thank you to Village Shalom for their kind and gentle care during Charles’ stay. Gratitude also to Kansas City Hospice for their compassionate attention during the last days of Charles’ life as well as the support provided for the family. Charles’ body has been donated to KU Medical Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions marked for the bus ministry at First Baptist Church, 1416 Main, Grandview, Missouri 64030, or contributions marked for Alzheimer’s care at Village Shalom, 5500 West 123rd, Overland Park, Kansas 66209 or contributions to Kansas City Hospice, 10100 W. 87th Street, Suite 100, Overland Park, Kansas 66212.

Memorial Services

Memorial services will be held Monday, March 23, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Kingswood Community, 100th Street and Wornall Road with reception to follow.