(Robert) Bruce Pickens

(Robert) Bruce Pickens, 94, died in St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis. Bruce was born in Uniontown, Pa., the only child of Joseph Abraham and Margaret Gertrude (Brown) Pickens. As both parents worked, Bruce lived with his maternal grandparents, Henry Litman and Hannah Jane (Dunaway) Brown in Pechin near Dunbar, Pa. when he was three years old. For the next 15 years he spent weekends and holidays with his parents in Uniontown, traveling by interurban trolley every Friday after school. Bruce attended Pechin Grade School and graduated from Dunbar Township High School in Leisenring, Pa. with the Class of 1944. In 1944, Bruce enlisted in the U.S. Army Corps in February and was called to active duty that July. He was discharged in November of 1945 with the rank of Corporal and went on to enlist in the inactive reserve of the newly formed U.S. Air Force in May 1947. 1950 was a busy year for Bruce, his inactive reserve enlistment was up in May, he received a B.S. in Bus. Adm. degree from Waynesburg College in June, and in September of 1950, he and Mary Ellen Evans of Republic, Pa. were married. During the early years of World War II, before he went into the service, Bruce was a volunteer aircraft spotter for the Army Air Forces Aircraft Warning System. For his many hours of service he was awarded the wings pin. He was also a charter member of the Air Force Association. Always willing to lead and help as needed, Bruce was a founding and charter member of the Greater Uniontown (Pa.) Junior Chamber of Commerce, Committee Chairman and member of the board of directors. In his years of service to his church, he served as a Junior High Worship Director, Treasurer, Sunday School Superintendent, and Ruling Elder. He was active in Scouting, both as a youth and as an adult, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and was also inducted into the Order of the Arrow. He served as a Provisional Camp Leader, Cubmaster, and Merit Badge Counselor. Bruce was a certified public accountant in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Indiana. He was a Life Member of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs and the Indiana CPA Foundation. He was a Distinguished Member of the Illinois CPA Society and a Senior Member of the Indiana CPA Society. Bruce was a biographee of Marquis Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the Midwest and Who’s Who in Finance and Industry. Bruce was employed in public accounting for many years, including his own practice. In the early part of his long career he was employed at Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh and at the University of Pittsburgh. He retired from CTS Corporation, Elkhart, Indiana in 1981 where he was General Auditor, Corporate Controller and Chief Accountant. In 1987, he left retirement to assist SEA Group, Inc. and SEA ILAN, Inc. in Carmel, Indiana and in 1988, he returned to retirement. He and Mary Ellen were married for 52 years. she predeceased him in 2002. Bruce is survived by their three children; Gail Martin, Rachel Rosen (Bruce), and David (Miriam), five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Crown Hill Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. There will be no calling or services. A private ceremony will be held for family at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to Waynesburg University or the Dunbar Historical Society.