Rev. Richard L. Pickering

The Reverend Mr. Richard L. Pickering, 79, of Indianapolis, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2026, at Community North Heart Hospital in Indianapolis. Rick was born on December 31, 1946, in Cleveland, Ohio to William F. and Betty J. (Mennen) Pickering. 

Rick graduated from Lafayette Jefferson High School in 1964. He graduated from Purdue University in 1969. Rick went on to attend Drew University in Madison, New Jersey and later completed his seminary studies at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis in 1977. 

On August 13, 1977, Rick married Sally L. Eldridge in Lafayette, Indiana. She survives. 

Rick was an ordained elder of the United Methodist Church. He served churches in Romney, Buck Creek, Kokomo, Rolling Prairie, Monroeville. In 1990 he was appointed to serve as the Director of the Wesley Foundation at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. 

Rick’s passion was working with college students. He developed the Summer Companies mission program where students worked in at-risk neighborhoods across the country and in cities across Europe with children in Belfast, Ireland, Tbilisi, Georgia, and Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. 

Surviving along with his wife is his daughter Kathryn L. (Michael) Stephenson and step-grandaughter Alyssa Stephenson. His beloved cat Salem also survives. 

Also surviving are his siblings, Mark (Pamela) Pickering of Cleveland, Tennessee, Barbara (John) Benefiel of Lafayette, Indiana and Bruce (Lori) of Columbus, North Carolina. 

Rick was preceded in death by his parents and brother Ronald E. Pickering. 

Visitation will be from 2:00 pm until the time of the memorial service at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd, Lafayette, Indiana. The Rev. Dr. Kirk VanGilder officiating.  Memorial contributions may be made to Mylodysplastic Syndrome (https://www.mds-foundation.org/)  in Rick’s memory and/or to the IndyHumane Society (https://indyhumane.org/about/ways-to-give/main/?sc=2511HPEG1&utm_source=fy25&utm_medium=hpbutton&utm_campaign=rkd-fy25-hpbutton)