Robert Pickens

Robert "Bob" Pickens soared to the Heavens above July 17, 2015. He was born July 19, 1938, in East Chicago, Ind. Bob was a man of many talents. He was the first to solo at the age of 15 in Cuba, earning his private pilot's license. He then moved onto several full-scale ratings, including his instrument ticket. His prize possession was his J3 Piper Cub. His love of flying ranged from being in the skies to radio controlled models and big helium balloons. He was a member of many radio control clubs and so enjoyed the Friday morning breakfast crew of flyers at the Silver Nugget. Not many knew of his love for opera music and he was a member of MENSA. Bob was an ironworker out of Union Local 395 in Hammond Ind., then transferred to local 433 in Vegas. He ran work for several companies including American Bridge, Bechtel, Uriah, M.W. Erectors, Century Steel and Southwest Metal Smiths. He became an instructor at the apprenticeship school, graduating many men and women of the trade. He was voted Instructor of the Year in 2001 by his peers. He's survived by his wife, Sherry; son, Todd; daughter, Kylie; grandson, Todd Robert, all of Las Vegas; daughter, Kris Rougeou; granddaughter, Taylor Dugas, both of Lafayette, La.; and dog, Tag. He will be missed but we're thankful that he's no longer suffering and he would be cracking a joke to make people laugh. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. N.

---