Rucker, John W.

Obituary

John W. Rucker, age 100, died September 6. Born in Nashville, TN, on July 2, 1913, to the late John E. and Mabel Willson Rucker. Preceded in death by wife Ruth Rucker, sister Enola Rucker Speer, and foster daughters Letha Schiano and Mary Ruth Gamon. Married Ruth Cunningham on September 29, 1934. This union was blessed with six children, three foster children, seventeen grandchildren, thirty-two great-grandchildren, three great, great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. Ruth Rucker, John’s loving companion for seventy-two years, died January 16, 2007. Survived by sons John (Mae) Rucker, Jr., Ed (Joyce) Rucker, Tom (Regina) Rucker, Dan (Amy) Rucker; daughters Mary Carol (Wayne) Estes, Evelyn (Ron) McFarland; foster son Anthony Schiano. ter earning an Associates Degree from David Lipscomb College in 1933, he began a forty-five year career working for Neuhoff Packing Company, where he worked as Industrial Relations manager for twenty years. He retired in 1978.

Mr. Rucker was a lifelong member of the Otter Creek Church of Christ, serving for fifteen years as a deacon and thirty-five years as an elder. He helped his wife Ruth begin and build the Otter Creek Kindergarten and Preschool. He worked tirelessly for the church missions program in Korea, helping to start Korean Christian College. Mr. Rucker led his personal family and his church family in serving God and submitting to His will with dedication.

Pall Bearers: Russ Rucker, Bob Estes, Paul Rucker, Erick Rucker, Caleb Rucker, Ryan Rucker, Jamin Rucker, Anthony Schiano, Colin Rucker. Honorary Pall Bearers: the former and current elders of Otter Creek Church of Christ.

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:15-16

Sandra Collins’s comments on both John and Ruth follow the obit and Carolyn Maddux’s comments