Samuel D. Pickens, 80, of Ripley passed away Sunday, March 7, 2010, at his daughter’s home. 

He was born July 1, 1929, at Grasslick in Jackson County, a son of the late Samuel Marion Pickens and Bertha Godbey Pickens. 

He was a devoted father. He was a member of the I.O.U.E. Union for 42 years and worked as a Heavy Duty Mechanic with West Virginia Paving. He served in the U.S. Army as a Paratrooper in World War II.

He is survived by sons Darrell Pickens of Liberty and Daniel Pickens of Huntington; daughters Elizabeth Webb of Fairplain and Glenda Jean Fisher of Charleston; grandchildren Darrell Pickens, Katie Webb, Ritchie Pack, and Chrissy Canterbury; four great-grandchildren; and sisters Parmalee Edens of Charleston, Audrey Barnette of Rockcastle, and Naomi Flesher of Fairplain.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by son William Samuel (Butch), and his wife Helen Madeline.

Funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 10, at 1:00 p.m. at Roush Funeral Home, Ravenswood. Burial will follow in the Ravenswood Cemetery.

Friends may visit the family at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 9, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Condolences may be expressed to the Pickens family by email at roush94@yahoo.com, or at www.joeroushfuneralhome.com.