Pickering, Barbara

Barbara Pickering, 81, died Sunday morning, July 29, 2012, at Living Center East, Cedar Rapids, following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, at the Viola Methodist Church with interment in the Wilcox Cemetery. Jim May will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 4to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at .

Surviving are four children, Sue (Curt) Hutchins, Marion, Penny Pollock, Cedar Rapids, Debbie (Phil) Feldman, Rick (Peggy) Pickering, and a former daughter-in-law, Sherrie Ventura all of Dubuque, 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a granddaughter, Brittany; and three brothers, Bert, Vernon and Charles.

Barbara Jean Copenhaver was born Feb. 15, 1931, at Glidden, Iowa. She was the daughter of Harry and Cannie Hendricks Copenhaver. Barbara graduated from the Glidden High School in 1950. She married James Pickering on Dec. 27, 1950 at Glidden, Iowa. The couple made their home in the Viola area and James was employed at the Iowa Men's Reformatory. Barbara sold Stanley Products, and was a nurses aide at the Anamosa Hospital. She later worked for Elder Care in Cedar Rapids. The couple divorced in 1974 and he preceded her in death in 2005. Barbara was a member of the Viola Methodist Church, and the U.M.W. and Viola Civic League.

The family would like to thank all the staff at Living Center East and Iowa Hospice as well for all the loving care and support during their mother's illness.

Published in The Gazette July 30, 2012.