Marvin Dean Pickeral

When Marvin Dean Pickeral was in first grade, there was a big prize on the line: A classroom ice cream party for whichever elementary school student completed the most jumps in a jump rope competition. Mind you, it was field day; there were tons of games and contests and fun going on all over the school grounds. In the midst of it all, there stood Marvin, signing up for the big one. He got ready, crouched in anticipation, and leapt into the air as the rope went ‘round. Jump one, completed! Jump two… well, not so much. That was that. With his one jump on the books, he walked away with little more than the satisfaction of trying. Imagine his surprise when the contests were tallied and the winners announced—and he learned he’d won ice cream for his whole class. Turns out, Marvin was the only student to sign up for the jump rope competition. So with his one jump, he won. He went on to “win” at life in a multitude of ways, succeeding simply by showing up, trying, and persisting when any challenge arose. Known affectionately as “Merv,” “Daddy,” and “Pop,” Marvin enjoyed going fishing, working on renovations, building everything from tables to sheds, listening to and playing Southern Gospel music, spending quality time with his family and friends, eating Breyers vanilla ice cream, and fine dining on chicken tenders and French fries. An active part of local law enforcement agencies for 25 years, “Pick” served for eight years on the Danville Police Department before shifting to a 17-year career with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, where he retired in Dec. 2022 with the title of Investigator. Growing up watching the Andy Griffith Show, Marvin always wanted to be a police officer. He lived his dream, aiding his fellow community members in their times of crisis. Pick will be buried with full law enforcement honors. Marvin was an active member of the Piney Forest Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he faithfully served in multiple leadership roles throughout the years, regularly maintained the audio/visual booth, and proudly controlled the thermostat. Marvin was born on Sept. 9, 1960, in Danville, and died following a brief, but valiant fight against Leukemia on Apr. 27, 2024. While he will be dearly and deeply missed here on Earth, his family and loved ones rest with the assurance that they will see him again in Heaven. He is survived by his outgoing and adventurous wife of nearly 42 years, Karen; devoted and skydiving-partner son, Chad (intelligent daughter-at-heart, Juana); fishing buddy and creative daughter, Amie Knowles (still unsure whether he actually got approval to marry his daughter, Kody); grandchildren including future monster truck driver Colton Knowles, future hard worker John, and wiggle worm baby Amelia; caring mother Mamie; and fun-loving siblings Donnie, Lefty, Tony (Pattie), Linda Crowder (Clark), and Eddie. Marvin was predeceased by his musically inclined father, Leonard. Visitation will occur at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, at the Piney Forest Seventh-day Adventist Church in Danville; the funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. Marvin will be laid to rest at Providence Baptist Church in Providence, North Carolina. Whether you knew Marvin personally or simply through these words, the family requests that you do a single hop on a jump rope, then celebrate with ice cream—and remember that persistence, courage, and kindness can change the world for the better. We love you, Pop. Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel is respectfully serving the Pickeral family.

Marvin Dean Pickeral

September 9, 1960 - April 27, 2024