Dana R.”Ronnie” Pickup, Jr.

Venice, FL and Wellsville, NY - Dana R.”Ronnie” Pickup, Jr., 73, of Wellsville, NY and Venice, FL, passed away on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at Transitions Hospice Home in Raleigh, NC. He was surrounded by his family as his battle with multiple myeloma came to a peaceful conclusion. He was born February 7, 1943 in Savannah, GA, the son of the late Dana R. and Elizabeth (Jenks) Pickup.

Dana graduated from Wellsville High School 1961, lettering in three sports and serving as student council president his senior year.  A star quarterback in high school, he went on to play for the Penn State Nittany Lions, playing in the Gator Bowl in 1962.  While at Penn State, he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, during which time he established many lifelong bonds with friends that continue to this day.  In 1966 he earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, after which time he served with the U. S. Army in Korea.

After his return from overseas duty, he practiced as a Certified Public Accountant at his father’s family business in Wellsville. In 1980, he purchased Cuba Specialty Manufacturing Company of Fillmore, NY, a maker of minnow traps and other fishing tackle equipment.  He successfully ran and expanded the business until his retirement.  He served as president of the American Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association, an industry trade organization, from 1989-1990.  During his tenure, he had the opportunity to host a fishing trip with President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush at the Grand Teton National Park.  He also served on the President’s Advisory Board at Houghton College in Allegany County.

As a youth, he spent summers at Brentwood Camp, eventually serving as a counselor, and continued to support the camp for years after. He enjoyed sailing, skiing, golf, and was an avid hot air balloonist, piloting the Bloody Mary balloon over the skies of western New York.  He was a member of the Jaycees in Wellsville and enjoyed hosting clam bakes and organizing road rallies. He was a Rotarian and a member of the Wellsville Elks Lodge. He had a strong faith and was a member of the Englewood United Methodist Church in Englewood, FL and the Presbyterian Church of Wellsville in Wellsville, NY.

Dana is survived by his wife Patti, his brother Bob and sister in law Linda of Gulfport, FL, son and daughter-in-law, Lance and Tresa Pickup of Raleigh, NC, daughter and son-in-law Shannon and Jimmy Leonida of Raleigh, NC, daughter and son-in-law Danielle and John Quiocho of Cary, NC, step-son and daughter-in-law Todd and Christy Willard of Greenville, DE, step-daughter Brittany Willard of Ocean Isle Beach, NC, grandchildren Alec and Collin Pickup, Kieron and Kennedy Leonida, Cooper and Maximilian Quiocho, Jack and Grace Willard, his goddaughter Caitlain Lewis Clary as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to visit the family on Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 34 W. State Street in Wellsville, NY. The funeral will be Friday, June 3rd at 11:00 am in the First United Methodist Church, 79 Madison Street in Wellsville, NY. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellsville. Please consider memorial donations to the Hart Comfort House, 141 East State Street, Wellsville, NY 14895 or to Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh, NC (transitionslifecare.org/donate). To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.