PICKETT, Charles J. 1911-2010
PICKETT, BRITTIN, HOWREY, RYAN
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 10/16/2010 at 17:08:52
[Waterloo Courier, Thursday, June 17, 2010]
Charles Joseph Pickett, 99, born April 1, 1911, in Waterloo, died June 13, 2010, in Iowa City, where he recently moved to be near his daughter. His mind was sharp until the end; a recent bout of pneumonia contributed to his quick passing on Sunday with his daughter and son nearby.
Mr. Pickett is preceded in death by his wife, Frances Louise Brittin Pickett, whom he married Aug. 30, 1946, in Cedar Rapids; his sister, India Pickett Lilly Howrey, and brother Edgar Ballard Pickett. His father was the Honorable Charles Edgar Pickett (1866-1930) and his mother was India Belle Ryan Pickett (1871-1980); Congressman Pickett was a U.S. Representative from 1909-1913.
Mr. Pickett graduated from Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts where he was on the swimming team and he continued his love of swimming for exercise until his late 90s. He graduated from Yale in 1934 with an A.B. degree in government and also competed as a pole vaulter. He earned a J.D. degree with distinction from the University of Iowa Law School in 1937. One summer, he worked as a ranger in Yellowstone National Park, and during another worked as a seaman on a freighter to Hawaii.
During World War II, he served as a First Lieutenant in the Army Combat Engineers, and escaped a sinking ship as it landed on Utah Beach for D-Day Plus One in Normandy. He received two Purple Hearts from combat at the Battle of the Bulge.
Mr. Pickett was a practicing attorney in Waterloo for over 50 years, until his retirement seven years ago. He was a longtime member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, as well as of the First Congregational Church in Waterloo, the Iowa Bar Association, and the Board of Directors of the Elmwood Cemetery Association.
Memorable family vacations include car trips to Mexico City in the early '60s and another to Nova Scotia, a canoe trip in Minnesota, and a train trip to California. Later he enjoyed travel and adventures in California, Arizona, Florida, Alaska, and South America. His charm and wit always entertained those fortunate enough to share travel with him.
He is survived by his three children, four granddaughters, and one great-granddaughter: Cynthia Frances Pickett of Iowa City, her daughter Angela Suzanne Jacobs and son-in-law Jacob Sesker and their daughter, Charlotte Jacobs of Washington, D.C.; John Charles Pickett of Overland Park, Kan., his wife Debra Collins and their daughter Leah Collins Pickett; and Charles Edgar Pickett of Marion, Ohio and his wife Terry Pickett, their daughter Sally Janel Pickett, stepdaughters Holly and Carla Brown, as well as his daughter Amy Terese Pickett of St. Paul, Minn.
His knowledge, humor, repartee and wisdom will be missed by us all.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at First Congregational Church, with burial at Elmwood Cemetery, Waterloo. Friends may call Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories, and Saturday from 9 a.m. until the church service. Military rites conducted by Becker-Chapman Post No. 138 and the Waterloo VFW.
Memorials may be sent to the Waterloo Elmwood Cemetery Association, 226 Elmwood St., Waterloo, IA 50701.
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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