Robert "Bob" Fulton Pickens

He was born on August 17, 1931 in Emory, Georgia to Charles L. and Lucile Still Pickens. He lived in Atlanta, Chillicothe, Ohio, and Monroe, Ga. while growing up, and graduated from Georgia Tech in 1952.

He served in the Navy on the USS Bennington from 1952-54, and was one of those responsible for getting the ship quickly and safely back to port following the catastrophic hydraulic catapult explosion that took the lives of 103 men on May 26, 1954.

He married the love of his life, Darien Doughty George, on July 28, 1956, and they were married for 65 years, until her death in 2022. They moved to Greenville in 1961 where he worked at Stone Manufacturing as an industrial engineer, at Her Majesty as Vice-President of Operations, and at The Stroman Company. They joined Aldersgate United Methodist Church in 1963, which they dearly loved. Bob filled many roles at Aldersgate over 50 years, most notably as Chairman of the Building Committee and Chairman of Trustees.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Darien; his parents; his sister Jeanette Drake; and his infant son, Charles R. Pickens. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara (Ed) Foster of Winston-Salem, NC and Linda (Ty) Cobb of Greenville, SC; three grandchildren, Edward Foster of Lewisville, NC, Robert Foster of Raleigh, NC and Rebecca Cobb of Greenville, SC; his nephew, Lee Drake of Kenner, La.; his cousin Suzanne Laseter of Franklin, NC; and several other cousins.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 12:00 pm at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 7 Shannon Drive Greenville, SC 29615, with visitation beginning at 11:00 am. A committal service will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, SC 29609.

Memorials may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 7 Shannon Drive, Greenville, SC, 29615 or to Epworth Children’s Home, P.O. Box 50466, Columbia, SC 29250.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude and appreciation to the amazing nurses and staff of The Gables at Pelham Skilled Nursing for the remarkable care and love they gave to Dad over the last year.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeywoodlawn.com for the Pickens family.