Eleanor Maxine Pickard, 97, passed away on October 3, 2026. Born May 3, 1929, in Roper, NC, Maxine’s life was marked by steady devotion—to faith, to family, and to the quiet, daily work of caring for others. A longtime resident of Escondido, California, she will be remembered with deep respect and enduring gratitude.
In her early years, Maxine distinguished herself as a student of uncommon focus and ability, graduating from Roper High School as class valedictorian. After World War II, she moved to Washington, DC, where she went to work for the FBI in the IDent Bureau. It was there that she met the man she would marry, Robert “Bob” Pickard.
After their marriage, Maxine devoted herself wholeheartedly to home and family, becoming a steadfast wife, mother, and homemaker. With Bob’s job requiring frequent relocation, she became remarkably skilled at the practical art of holding a household together through change—managing the family’s nine moves with calm competence and careful planning. Together, Maxine and Bob were blessed with three children—Judy, Nan, and Robert—and shared 70 years of married life. Bob preceded her in death.
Maxine’s care for others extended naturally into the ways she learned and lived. She studied nutrition and home remedies with the diligence of a true student, becoming a virtual encyclopedia on both. Her cooking and baking were widely admired—so much so that Bob became the envy of many of his friends. In all things, she carried herself with a gracious steadiness, and Maxine was known for offering a kind word to everyone she met.
A devout Catholic, Maxine was an avid reader of the Bible and books on Catholic spirituality, drawing strength and purpose from her faith. Those who spent time with her came to recognize a familiar blessing at the close of a visit or conversation: “May the Holy Angels be with you, bless you and protect you.”
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob” Pickard; her brothers, Carlton Phelps and Raymond Phelps; and her sister, Violet Barwick.
She is survived by her children: Judy Maxine Balzer- Pickard , Nan Teresa Garcia of San Diego, California, and Robert F. Pickard Jr. of Escondido, California; her grandchildren: Isaiah Loftin, Gabriel Pickard, and Maura Pickard; her great grandsons: Pedro Pickard, Ovie Okajeva, and Leo Okajeva; and her siblings: Gerald Phelps of Simms, NC, and Linda Phelps Nooney of New Bern, North Carolina.
A Committal Service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, 4470 Hilltop Dr, San Diego, CA 92102, on October 23, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.
The family would like to thank everyone at Elizabeth Hospice who cared for Mama in her time of need, especially her nurse Mike Reed, her health assistant Sylvia Maldinado, and close family friend Neil Beverage.
