Timothy Lee Pickering

Timothy Lee Pickering, 85, of Christiansburg, VA, and formerly of Emmaus, PA, died on October 19, 2026, after a sudden and brief illness, during which he expressed his irritation that he was going to die before finding out the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections. Tim was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Dianna Lee (Singleton) Pickering. He is survived by his loving companion Patti Bass, brothers David (Kathleen) and Kenneth (April) Pickering, sister Kathy Mohler, son Christopher (Kristen) Pickering, daughters Beth Pickering and Shannon (Dan) Radmacher, granddaughters Marielle and Leah Pickering, and step-grandsons Brody Hamilton and Nathan Radmacher. His companion’s children Bess, Joseph, and Paul Pallante also became like family to him during his years with Patti. Tim was born in 1940 to parents Joseph Franklin and Helen Mae (Brown) Pickering in Logansport, IN. He graduated from Riley High School in South Bend, IN, where he was an active member of the debate team, an excellent preparation for his later love of political discourse. He met his future wife Dianna while a sophomore at Riley, where he played sax and she played clarinet in the marching band. He and Dianna married while he was obtaining his B.S. degree in chemistry from Purdue University, and he went on to obtain his Ph.D. in polymer science from Princeton University in 1966. His career began with a number of years engaged in polymer research for various companies, including Union Carbide and Air Products. When his children were grown, he left industry to join Virginia Tech as Assistant Director of the NSF Science and Technology Center for Polymeric Adhesives and Composites. He was a co-author on eight U.S. patents covering various aspects and uses of polymeric materials and composites. During their 50- year marriage, Tim and Dianna enjoyed many travels together. Tent camping at state and national parks was the staple vacation while they were raising their kids, which all campers know is way more work than a vacation should be. In their retirement years, they upped the travel comfort level with memorable group trips to Europe, including an odyssey to Greece and Turkey, a French tour of Paris and Provence, and an exploration of Italy. After Dianna’s death in 2010, Tim became involved with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the New River Valley, which became a vibrant source of community, fellowship, and intellectual stimulation for him (not that he needed any more of the latter). He served in multiple capacities there, including facilitator of Conversations on Our Faith and the Meditation Group, member of the Men's Breakfast, Memorial Committee, Ministerial Search Committee, and president of the Executive Board. Tim, a lifelong conservative, especially appreciated the ability to have respectful political and ideological discussions with his more liberally minded fellow UU congregants. A service in celebration of Tim’s life will be held on Sunday, November 1, at 2 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of NRV at 1301 Gladewood Rd., Blacksburg, VA, with a reception following. The service will also be livestreamed and can be viewed on the website uucnrv.org or using this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/s/510469220?pwd=Mlk0UGJDMmk2a3d3N0pDNktZdmJ3QT09. In lieu of flowers, Tim requested that those wishing to show support donate to the American Cancer Society in honor and memory of the two loves of his life.