Norman "Buzz" Picken

White River Junction, VT – Norman “Buzz” Picken, 79, died Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at home with his family by his side.

Buzz was born July 22, 1946, in Hanover, NH, a son of Arthur and Beatrice (Wheeler) Picken. He attended Norwich Grade School and later Hartford High School. In 1964, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Germany and Vietnam.

Buzz married Linda A. Hardy on December 8, 1967, in Norwich, VT. Together, they made their home in Quechee and White River, where they raised their two daughters, Jennifer and Christine, and shared nearly 59 years of marriage.

Following his honorable discharge in 1968, he returned to the Upper Valley and worked at Clifford's Garage and then for the Hartford Fire Department serving as both the Department mechanic and firefighter/EMT for 11 years. He later established his own automotive repair service, N. R. Picken Auto Repair, which he operated until his retirement due to injury in 2002.

An avid outdoorsman, Buzz enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his brothers, Bob and Bill. Some of his fondest memories and best stories were of sitting under a tree on Quimby Mountain in Sharon, VT, and attending the Lake Winnipesaukee Fishing Derby with his brothers and nephews. Above all else, he cherished his family. His smile was never bigger or his laugh louder than when surrounded by his loud and "rowdy" bunch.

He is survived by his wife, Linda of White River Junction; two daughters, Jennifer King (Thomas) of Corinth, VT, and Christine Wood (Finn Tourville) of White River Junction; six grandchildren, Erik, Josh and Patricia King; Norah and Meera Wood, and Sawyer Bray; much-loved and appreciated extended family members Matthew Wood, Hannah Curtin, and Darrin Bray of Bethel, VT, and brother-in-law Dan Hardy and wife Carol of Pomfret, VT; and sister Saundra Koloski of Wilder, VT, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Robert Picken and William Picken; and two sisters, Norma McClelland and Thelma Johnson.

A private committal service will be held at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center, VT. The family plans a celebration of Buzz's life at a date and place to be determined.

Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed in the online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.

Buzz's family would like to sincerely thank all of the staff at the White River Jct. VA Medical Center and Dartmouth Health Hospice for their care and support. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Volunteer Services, 215 North Main Street, White River Junction, VT 05009, or Visiting Nurse and Hospice for VT & NH, Medical & Healthcare Advancement, One Medical Center Drive, HB 7070, Lebanon, NH 03756.