Thomas "Bud" Albert Pickle Jr.
January 14, 1944 ~ August 18, 2026
Thomas "Bud" Albert Pickle, Jr., of Centerville, Texas, went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, the 18th day of August 2026, at the age of 82. He was born in Palestine, Texas on the 14th day of January 1944 to parents Thomas A. Pickle and Geneva Lively Pickle.
Bud graduated from Palestine High School in 1962. Following graduation, he attended Abilene Christian University, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Bud also furthered his education at Portland State International Communications and University of Zagreb. From 1968 to 1975, Bud devoted himself to mission work in the former Yugoslavia. In 1976, he began a career as a project manager in land and energy development, a field in which he worked across the United States for nearly five decades, continuing through 2025.
Bud's greatest treasures were his faith and his family. He loved the Lord deeply and took great joy in the time he shared with those he loved. His memory will live on in the hearts of his family and friends, and he will be deeply missed.
He is preceded in death by his father, Thomas A. Pickle
Bud is survived by his loving wife, Francine Pickle; mother, Geneva Lively Pickle; children, Lisa Stutzman, Laura Kinion, Natasha Cox, Darlene Boirie, Jessica Danielavez, Tiffany Rivera, Kristopher Pickle, and Lisa Henderson; siblings, Robert "Bob" Pickle, Deborah Mueller, Danielle Wear, and Mark Pickle. He also leaves behind sixteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
Funeral services to celebrate Bud's life will be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Monday the 24th day of August 2026 in the Rhone Memorial Chapel. A private interment will be in Cedar Creek Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Douglas Stutzman, Michael Kinion, Mark Haynes, John Haynes, Ronnie Day, and Kristopher Pickle.
Funeral services for Thomas Albert Pickle, Jr. are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas. Please visit his online memorial tribute at www.rhonefuneralhome.com, where words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.
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The Counsil family is sorry to hear of Buds passing ,Thoughts and prayers go out to Francine and family, Bud and his family were always welcoming to our family when we moved to the area looking for a church home, what we really found was not just a church but an extended family and friends!
Lipsey Addition and Fifth Street wouldn’t be as special without the Pickle family. Many memories were made with much laughter. Our condolences to Bob, Deborah, Margie, and Mark.
Bill-Becky Lincoln Cooksey
Fort Worth
Bud is almost ten years my senior but my immediate thoughts when I remember him is how sweet and patient he was when I was a child.
Some of my fondest memories are how excited I would be to stay overnight at the Pickle house on Fifth Street with my cousins.
May he rest in peace and I send my love and condolences to family.
I am so sorry for the loss of your loved one. God grant you all peace.
I have fond memories of meeting Bud in Corpus Christi while we were down there doing an art show about fifteen years ago.
He was a great tour guide and showed us the wind energy project he worked on. I also remember some birthday calls from him or text messages – a kind and thoughtful person. He will be missed! My deepest condolences go out to Francine and his entire family.
Sending condolences to the Family of Thomas Pickle Jr. I knew Thomas Sr. and Geneva many years ago when we attended Queen and Debard Church of Christ.
I am so sorry for your loss. Years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Bud on a flight from Ljubljana to Vienna where he was meeting with a client, Dr. Franz Helm. Due to an overbooked Vienna, Dr. Helm extended an invite for me to stay at his lodge which was on the Hapsburg Estate. Bud reassured me all would be okay. What lovely days of hiking in pristine private wilderness and meeting other visitors who were high level Austrian government officials. Bud was surprised to meet someone/me, who had dear long term Yugoslavian friends. After, we kept in touch sporadically with talk of biz matters and politics. Always enthusiastic about what was next on his agenda. A lovely gentleman…dearly missed.