David Pickup

David (Dave) was born on February 22, 1947, in Montebello, California to James Vincent and June Alene (Flora) Pickup. Dave graduated from Norwalk High School in Norwalk, CA. He later attended Cerritos College and California State University of Long Beach. Although most didn’t know it, he was a skilled musician. He played piano, drums and guitar and in the 70’s opened for some pretty big bands!

In 1976, while coaching the swim team for Mt. Sac Community College, he met and married Kay (Gain) Pickup. They met while Dave was coaching Kay’s three children Beth, Mindy and Greg. This year, Dave and Kay celebrated 48 years of marriage.

Dave was an electrician by trade. He worked for GE, Master Processing and Bandag, all in the Los Angeles area. Dave was also involved in the Greenleaf Masonic Lodge of Whittier CA, where he was twice a Worshipful Master. Additionally, he and Kay were very involved in the International Order of Job’s Daughters for many years.

However, no matter what his trade, he never left the field of coaching. For many years, he held both the electrician job and a coaching position where he took kids to workout both before and after work. For 20+ years he was a swimming coach and took kids all the way to Nationals.

In 2005, he and Kay relocated from Hacienda Heights, CA to Milford, NY. Once in Milford, they became members of the Milford Center Community Bible Church where he met one of his closest friends, Pastor Steve Fournier. Dave was a devout Christian and loved the Lord. Dave fully believed that God was in control, enjoyed a good Bible Study and loved to tell his gym kids about Jesus. For more than ten years he served as a board member, Vice President and President of the Goodyear Lake Association.

The highlight of his life was the creation of Grandma’s House Gym. Through the practice of weightlifting and coaching local youth he shared his faith and built a community of young men and women. He coached track and field events such as shotput and discus with Milford Central School and incorporated weightlifting into the regimen. Over the years, he and the lifters from Grandma’s House Gym went on to win many Monster Bench titles. Recently, Dave was most excited to return to coaching swimming with Emily Kane.

Dave is survived by his wife of 48 years, Kay Pickup of Milford; his three stepchildren, Beth Parodi (Jay) of Colorado, Mindy Paffenroth (Peter) of Milford and Greg Salter (Karen) of Israel; five grandchildren, Jeremy Parodi, Kerry Young, Chelsea Lowers, R’eut Salter and Nir Salter; as well as seven great-grandchildren, Kaedence Cooper, Jude Young, Emelia Young, Francesca Young, Priscilla Young, Penelope Young and Delilah Young; sisters Darlene Potter of Washington, Carol Elrod of California and brother Michael of Arizona, and numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved very much.

Dave was predeceased by his parents James Vincent Pickup, June Alene (Flora) Pickup and brother James Wesley Pickup.

Services will be held at the Milford Center Community Bible Church, Saturday, January 4 at 11:00AM, Rev Stephen Fournier presiding.

To send the family an online condolence please visit www.bookhoutfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home, Oneonta.