Community members can pay their respects to a longtime Plymouth Community School Corporation music teacher this evening. Bob Pickell was killed last Friday when he fell through the attic at his Plymouth home onto the cement garage floor. News of his death shocked the community where he taught music for nearly four decades before retiring this spring.
Pickell began his career with the corporation in 1978 as choir director. Most recently he taught elementary students in kindergarten through 4th grade at both Webster and Menominee Elementary Schools in Plymouth.
A Service of Remembrance is scheduled this evening at 7 p.m. at the Plymouth High School Auditorium. It will honor Pickell’s life in education, as a community leader and as a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Visitation will take place at the school from 3:30 the time of the service.
For those who cannot attend the visitation or Service of Remembrance, Plymouth High School is honored to fulfill the wishes of the Pickell family and respectfully webcast both services live via the high school’s PTV at PHS YouTube channel. More information about how to view the services will be posted later today on the Plymouth Community School Corporation’s website, plymouth.k12.in.us.
Technical support will be provided by three Plymouth High School students who are all enrolled in the PTV program and knew Mr. Pickell personally. The students say they are all honored to volunteer their time in order to give those who cannot attend in person a respectful alternative to say goodbye from afar.
A mass of Christian burial will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 8th in St. Michael Catholic Church, 613 N. Center Street. Burial will follow at the New Oak Hill Cemetery in Plymouth.
Pickell’s family has established a scholarship fund in his memory with the Marshall County Community Foundation. They request memorials be given to the Robert P. Pickell Memorial Scholarship to further his life of music and its impact on students and others or to St. Michael Catholic Church in Plymouth. Contributions can be made to the Robert P. Pickell Memorial Scholarship, c/o The Marshall County Community Foundation, 2701 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, IN 46563.
