Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
BirthMar 25, 1928, Alamance County, North Carolina [39087]
DeathDec 5, 2019, Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina [39087]
BurialPine Hill Cemetery (Burlington City), Main St, Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina [39089]
FatherHorace Franklin PICKLER (1905-1988)
MotherVirginia THOMASSON (1909-1980)
Spouses
Children(Confidential, Female)
Obituary Online notes for Gerald Franklin PICKLER
12/8/2019
Gerald Franklin Pickler
Mr. Gerald Franklin Pickler, 91, was born March 25, 1928 in Alamance County to Horace Franklin Pickler and Virginia Thomasson Pickler.
He passed away December 5, 2019 at the Hospice Home after a brief illness.
Gerald attended Burlington High School where he excelled in sports, lettering all four years in basketball, football and baseball. He later pitched baseball in semi-pro ball, for Standard Hosiery and at Appalachian State, where he met his wife of 69 years, Norma Fender.
He was also a life guard in high school at Dixon swimming pool and Carolina Beach.
Gerald loved dancing, shag dancing at the beach and he was a member of the Shoe and Slipper Club of Burlington. He was a avid golfer, having played and worked as a Greens Superintendent at Shamrock Golf Club, upon leaving Shamrock he was Building and Grounds Superintendent for the City of Burlington.
He was also a brick mason in his early career, having been taught by his father, a brick mason. After retiring from the city, he spent his summers in the mountains of Alleghany County, near Sparta, where he restored an old barn. He also worked at Indian Valley mowing fairways.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Norma Pickler, of the home; a son, Gerald Franklin Pickler, Jr. and his wife, Dawn Luciano Pickler, of Wayne, New Jersey; a daughter, Tracy Caudle Somers and her husband, Don Somers, of Graham; four grandsons, Brian Franklin Pickler and wife, Kara Anderson Pickler, of Dublin, Ohio, Casey Storms Pickler and his wife, Rae Hinkle Pickler of Wayne, New Jersey, Maxwell John Pickler of Charlotte and Roy Madison Caudle III of Burlington; five great-grandchildren, Chandler and Hunter Caudle, Maggie and Luciana Pickler and Wade Franklin Pickler and an nephew, David Stanley of Atlanta, Georgia.
In addition to his parents, Gerald was preceded in death by a sister, Maxine Pickler Stanley.
The family will receive friends, Monday, December 9, 2019 from 10:45 to 11:45 AM at Rich and Thompson Funeral Service in Burlington. A funeral service will be held at noon in the Rich and Thompson Chapel. Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. Terry E. Peele and the Rev. Tommy Thomasson.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or to the Youth League at the First Baptist Church, 400 S. Broad Street, Burlington, NC 27215.
Online condolences may be made at www.richandthompson.com. [39087]
Gerald Franklin Pickler
Mr. Gerald Franklin Pickler, 91, was born March 25, 1928 in Alamance County to Horace Franklin Pickler and Virginia Thomasson Pickler.
He passed away December 5, 2019 at the Hospice Home after a brief illness.
Gerald attended Burlington High School where he excelled in sports, lettering all four years in basketball, football and baseball. He later pitched baseball in semi-pro ball, for Standard Hosiery and at Appalachian State, where he met his wife of 69 years, Norma Fender.
He was also a life guard in high school at Dixon swimming pool and Carolina Beach.
Gerald loved dancing, shag dancing at the beach and he was a member of the Shoe and Slipper Club of Burlington. He was a avid golfer, having played and worked as a Greens Superintendent at Shamrock Golf Club, upon leaving Shamrock he was Building and Grounds Superintendent for the City of Burlington.
He was also a brick mason in his early career, having been taught by his father, a brick mason. After retiring from the city, he spent his summers in the mountains of Alleghany County, near Sparta, where he restored an old barn. He also worked at Indian Valley mowing fairways.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Norma Pickler, of the home; a son, Gerald Franklin Pickler, Jr. and his wife, Dawn Luciano Pickler, of Wayne, New Jersey; a daughter, Tracy Caudle Somers and her husband, Don Somers, of Graham; four grandsons, Brian Franklin Pickler and wife, Kara Anderson Pickler, of Dublin, Ohio, Casey Storms Pickler and his wife, Rae Hinkle Pickler of Wayne, New Jersey, Maxwell John Pickler of Charlotte and Roy Madison Caudle III of Burlington; five great-grandchildren, Chandler and Hunter Caudle, Maggie and Luciana Pickler and Wade Franklin Pickler and an nephew, David Stanley of Atlanta, Georgia.
In addition to his parents, Gerald was preceded in death by a sister, Maxine Pickler Stanley.
The family will receive friends, Monday, December 9, 2019 from 10:45 to 11:45 AM at Rich and Thompson Funeral Service in Burlington. A funeral service will be held at noon in the Rich and Thompson Chapel. Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. Terry E. Peele and the Rev. Tommy Thomasson.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or to the Youth League at the First Baptist Church, 400 S. Broad Street, Burlington, NC 27215.
Online condolences may be made at www.richandthompson.com. [39087]
Obituary Online notes for Norma (Spouse 1)
6/2/2024
Norma Fender Pickler
April 1, 1928 ~ June 1, 2024 (age 96)
Norma Fender Pickler was born in Alleghany County on April 1, 1928 to Isom Creed Fender and Winnie Blevins Fender and married Gerald Franklin Pickler in 1950.
Norma was a graduate from Appalachian University and taught science in North Wilkesboro, E.M. Holt, Turrentine, Sellars Gun and Williams High School. She retired in 1986. She was a member of Alpha Delta Gamma teacher’s sorority.
She was an avid golfer, bridge club member and most of all gardening and outdoor activities in her beloved mountains where she grew up near Sparta.
She is survived by a son, Gerald Franklin Pickler, Jr. (Dawn) of Wayne, New Jersey; a daughter, Tracy Pickler Somers (Don) of Burlington; grandsons, Brian Franklin Pickler (Kara) of Dublin, Ohio, Casey Storms Pickler of Wayne, New Jersey, Maxwell John Pickler of Charlotte, N.C. and Roy Madison Caudle, III. (Jessica) of Burlington; great-grandchildren, Chandler and Hunter Caudle, Maggie and Luciana Pickler and Wade and Luke Pickler, Victoria Somers and Camryn Mitchell; and a brother, Jackie Fender of Mocksville, N.C.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald F. Pickler in 2019; three brothers, Earl Reid Fender, Bobby Glenn Fender, Billy Fender; and two sisters, Wilma Fender Franklin and Lorene Fender Godwin.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 from 11:00 am to 11:45 am at Rich and Thompson Funeral Home in Burlington. A memorial service will be held at 12 noon in the Rich and Thompson Chapel in Burlington. The family will have a reception at the residence following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or to the Youth League at the First Baptist Church, 400 S. Broad Street, Burlington, NC 27215. [39091]
Norma Fender Pickler
April 1, 1928 ~ June 1, 2024 (age 96)
Norma Fender Pickler was born in Alleghany County on April 1, 1928 to Isom Creed Fender and Winnie Blevins Fender and married Gerald Franklin Pickler in 1950.
Norma was a graduate from Appalachian University and taught science in North Wilkesboro, E.M. Holt, Turrentine, Sellars Gun and Williams High School. She retired in 1986. She was a member of Alpha Delta Gamma teacher’s sorority.
She was an avid golfer, bridge club member and most of all gardening and outdoor activities in her beloved mountains where she grew up near Sparta.
She is survived by a son, Gerald Franklin Pickler, Jr. (Dawn) of Wayne, New Jersey; a daughter, Tracy Pickler Somers (Don) of Burlington; grandsons, Brian Franklin Pickler (Kara) of Dublin, Ohio, Casey Storms Pickler of Wayne, New Jersey, Maxwell John Pickler of Charlotte, N.C. and Roy Madison Caudle, III. (Jessica) of Burlington; great-grandchildren, Chandler and Hunter Caudle, Maggie and Luciana Pickler and Wade and Luke Pickler, Victoria Somers and Camryn Mitchell; and a brother, Jackie Fender of Mocksville, N.C.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald F. Pickler in 2019; three brothers, Earl Reid Fender, Bobby Glenn Fender, Billy Fender; and two sisters, Wilma Fender Franklin and Lorene Fender Godwin.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 from 11:00 am to 11:45 am at Rich and Thompson Funeral Home in Burlington. A memorial service will be held at 12 noon in the Rich and Thompson Chapel in Burlington. The family will have a reception at the residence following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or to the Youth League at the First Baptist Church, 400 S. Broad Street, Burlington, NC 27215. [39091]