James Richard Jr. Pickard

Mr. James Richard Pickard, Jr., 69, left his worldly loved ones to be with his heavenly father on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at CMC-Northeast. He had been dealing with some health issues in recent years, but was seriously ill for ten days.
Richard was born in Atlanta, GA to James Richard Pickard Sr. and Edna Juanita Pickard on August 10, 1946. His family moved to North Carolina when he was in the eighth grade, and he graduated from Concord High School. He loved his classmates and after fifty years, he still kept in close touch with them, planning and attending all their reunions both here and at the beach.
In 1966, Richard met Vicky Plyler and they were married the same year. He and Vicky were looking forward to celebrating their 50th anniversary on September 4th of this year. He was an active member of Coldwater Baptist Church in Concord.
Richard retired after 37 years from Ronson Hydraulics (later Kaiser Fluid Technologies) in Charlotte, NC. He was a machinist, an engineer and later, manager of Environmental Health and Safety. Even though he was not a hunter, Richard enjoyed anything to do with firearms, and in younger years, he participated in shooting competitions. The hobby or job that he preferred to do was machining and gunsmith work.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, H.L. Pickard of Ashland City, TN.
Those left to cherish Richard’s memories are his two sons, James Pickard III and wife, Erin, Of Davidson, and Jason Pickard and wife, Melissa, of Concord; two grandsons, Kyler and Bryson Pickard; and one brother, Robert Pickard of Pineville.
The Pickard family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Watson and Dr. Tucker, and the kind, caring nurses on the second floor intensive care unit at CMC.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 12, 2016 from 2:30-4:00 at Wilkinson Funeral Home. A celebration of life service will follow at 4:00.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Coldwater Baptist Church, 1045 Union Street South, Concord, NC 28025.