Russell Frances (Bill) Rucker, age 99 of Van Lear, Kentucky passed away Sunday, November 22, 2020.
He was born May 2, 1921 in Hitchens, Kentucky to Anderson and Emma Ruth Rucker. He worked as a coal miner until he enlisted in the Army. Bill was a WWII Veteran that served as a Staff Sergeant with the Army – Air Corp in the South Pacific. After his military service he returned to Johnson County and trained as an instructor at Mayo Vocational School, initially teaching refrigeration and sheet metal and later teaching mathematics. He retired from Mayo Vocational School but never retired from his daily chores and interests. Bill loved his flowers and took great pride in his community. Bill was a chersihed member of the Van Lear Church of Christ for over 70 years and a founding member of the Van Lear Historical Society. Bill loved his family, church family, and community.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Garnetta, sisters: Mary (Dick) Stapleton, Naomi Ruth (Jack) Williams, Patricia (Jack) Fraley, Madge Rucker, Blanche and Lillian Rucker; brothers: Glen (Marie), Wayne, Clarence, Erris (Minerva), Harold (Audra), Lawrence, Stanley (Louise), and Earl (Juanita) Rucker.
He is survived by his daughters: Lynda Ratliff, Emma (Stanley) Collins, Dana (Nathan) Mathews, and Lora (Paul) Castle; grandchildren, Eric (Kim), Jason (Cindy), Brett (Rebecca), Jeremy (Ashley), and Kim (Chris), Brooklynn, Lakin, Sophia, Harrison, Will, and Wesley.
Bill's passing is a great loss to all of us and he will be greatly missed.
A private funeral service and visitation for the immediate family will be held at the Phelps and Son Funeral Home on Friday, November 27, 2020. Burial will follow in the Highland Memorial Park, Staffordsville. B.Joe Hill will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Van Lear Historical Society by contacting the Phelps & Son Funeral Home, (606) 789-8989.
I’d like to share a memory of mine today of a dear customer we just lost. This is Bill Rucker, a Veteran of WWII. A few years ago, Bill got selected to fly to Washington, D.C. as a part of the Honor Flight Kentucky program. Their mission is to fly World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans to Washington, D.C. for a one-day all-expenses-paid trip to visit the memorials that are dedicated to their service and sacrifices.
Bill brought me a patch from his old uniform and asked me to fix me a jacket so he could wear it on his trip. You could just tell how proud he was about his upcoming journey. My Dad, who has always been compassionate about giving back to our Veterans spoke with Bill and even bought his jacket. He started coming to our D-Day events at Cloud 9 and this picture was taken at the last one he attended. He was planning on taking another plane ride when he hit 100 years old with my Dad.
Rest easy our friend. Hopefully you eat good food in Heaven before your Cloud 9 Chocolate cake!!
——-Lauren
He was born May 2, 1921 in Hitchens, Kentucky to Anderson and Emma Ruth Rucker. He worked as a coal miner until he enlisted in the Army. Bill was a WWII Veteran that served as a Staff Sergeant with the Army – Air Corp in the South Pacific. After his military service he returned to Johnson County and trained as an instructor at Mayo Vocational School, initially teaching refrigeration and sheet metal and later teaching mathematics. He retired from Mayo Vocational School but never retired from his daily chores and interests. Bill loved his flowers and took great pride in his community. Bill was a chersihed member of the Van Lear Church of Christ for over 70 years and a founding member of the Van Lear Historical Society. Bill loved his family, church family, and community.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Garnetta, sisters: Mary (Dick) Stapleton, Naomi Ruth (Jack) Williams, Patricia (Jack) Fraley, Madge Rucker, Blanche and Lillian Rucker; brothers: Glen (Marie), Wayne, Clarence, Erris (Minerva), Harold (Audra), Lawrence, Stanley (Louise), and Earl (Juanita) Rucker.
He is survived by his daughters: Lynda Ratliff, Emma (Stanley) Collins, Dana (Nathan) Mathews, and Lora (Paul) Castle; grandchildren, Eric (Kim), Jason (Cindy), Brett (Rebecca), Jeremy (Ashley), and Kim (Chris), Brooklynn, Lakin, Sophia, Harrison, Will, and Wesley.
Bill's passing is a great loss to all of us and he will be greatly missed.
A private funeral service and visitation for the immediate family will be held at the Phelps and Son Funeral Home on Friday, November 27, 2020. Burial will follow in the Highland Memorial Park, Staffordsville. B.Joe Hill will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Van Lear Historical Society by contacting the Phelps & Son Funeral Home, (606) 789-8989.
I’d like to share a memory of mine today of a dear customer we just lost. This is Bill Rucker, a Veteran of WWII. A few years ago, Bill got selected to fly to Washington, D.C. as a part of the Honor Flight Kentucky program. Their mission is to fly World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans to Washington, D.C. for a one-day all-expenses-paid trip to visit the memorials that are dedicated to their service and sacrifices.
Bill brought me a patch from his old uniform and asked me to fix me a jacket so he could wear it on his trip. You could just tell how proud he was about his upcoming journey. My Dad, who has always been compassionate about giving back to our Veterans spoke with Bill and even bought his jacket. He started coming to our D-Day events at Cloud 9 and this picture was taken at the last one he attended. He was planning on taking another plane ride when he hit 100 years old with my Dad.
Rest easy our friend. Hopefully you eat good food in Heaven before your Cloud 9 Chocolate cake!!
——-Lauren
Russell Frances (Bill) Rucker, age 99 of Van Lear, Kentucky passed away Sunday, November 22, 2020.
He was born May 2, 1921 in Hitchens, Kentucky to Anderson and Emma Ruth Rucker. He worked as a coal miner until he enlisted in the Army. Bill was a WWII Veteran that served as a Staff Sergeant with the Army – Air Corp in the South Pacific. After his military service he returned to Johnson County and trained as an instructor at Mayo Vocational School, initially teaching refrigeration and sheet metal and later teaching mathematics. He retired from Mayo Vocational School but never retired from his daily chores and interests. Bill loved his flowers and took great pride in his community. Bill was a chersihed member of the Van Lear Church of Christ for over 70 years and a founding member of the Van Lear Historical Society. Bill loved his family, church family, and community.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Garnetta, sisters: Mary (Dick) Stapleton, Naomi Ruth (Jack) Williams, Patricia (Jack) Fraley, Madge Rucker, Blanche and Lillian Rucker; brothers: Glen (Marie), Wayne, Clarence, Erris (Minerva), Harold (Audra), Lawrence, Stanley (Louise), and Earl (Juanita) Rucker.
He is survived by his daughters: Lynda Ratliff, Emma (Stanley) Collins, Dana (Nathan) Mathews, and Lora (Paul) Castle; grandchildren, Eric (Kim), Jason (Cindy), Brett (Rebecca), Jeremy (Ashley), and Kim (Chris), Brooklynn, Lakin, Sophia, Harrison, Will, and Wesley.
Bill's passing is a great loss to all of us and he will be greatly missed.
A private funeral service and visitation for the immediate family will be held at the Phelps and Son Funeral Home on Friday, November 27, 2020. Burial will follow in the Highland Memorial Park, Staffordsville. B.Joe Hill will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Van Lear Historical Society by contacting the Phelps & Son Funeral Home, (606) 789-8989.
I’d like to share a memory of mine today of a dear customer we just lost. This is Bill Rucker, a Veteran of WWII. A few years ago, Bill got selected to fly to Washington, D.C. as a part of the Honor Flight Kentucky program. Their mission is to fly World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans to Washington, D.C. for a one-day all-expenses-paid trip to visit the memorials that are dedicated to their service and sacrifices.
Bill brought me a patch from his old uniform and asked me to fix me a jacket so he could wear it on his trip. You could just tell how proud he was about his upcoming journey. My Dad, who has always been compassionate about giving back to our Veterans spoke with Bill and even bought his jacket. He started coming to our D-Day events at Cloud 9 and this picture was taken at the last one he attended. He was planning on taking another plane ride when he hit 100 years old with my Dad.
Rest easy our friend. Hopefully you eat good food in Heaven before your Cloud 9 Chocolate cake!!
——-Lauren
He was born May 2, 1921 in Hitchens, Kentucky to Anderson and Emma Ruth Rucker. He worked as a coal miner until he enlisted in the Army. Bill was a WWII Veteran that served as a Staff Sergeant with the Army – Air Corp in the South Pacific. After his military service he returned to Johnson County and trained as an instructor at Mayo Vocational School, initially teaching refrigeration and sheet metal and later teaching mathematics. He retired from Mayo Vocational School but never retired from his daily chores and interests. Bill loved his flowers and took great pride in his community. Bill was a chersihed member of the Van Lear Church of Christ for over 70 years and a founding member of the Van Lear Historical Society. Bill loved his family, church family, and community.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Garnetta, sisters: Mary (Dick) Stapleton, Naomi Ruth (Jack) Williams, Patricia (Jack) Fraley, Madge Rucker, Blanche and Lillian Rucker; brothers: Glen (Marie), Wayne, Clarence, Erris (Minerva), Harold (Audra), Lawrence, Stanley (Louise), and Earl (Juanita) Rucker.
He is survived by his daughters: Lynda Ratliff, Emma (Stanley) Collins, Dana (Nathan) Mathews, and Lora (Paul) Castle; grandchildren, Eric (Kim), Jason (Cindy), Brett (Rebecca), Jeremy (Ashley), and Kim (Chris), Brooklynn, Lakin, Sophia, Harrison, Will, and Wesley.
Bill's passing is a great loss to all of us and he will be greatly missed.
A private funeral service and visitation for the immediate family will be held at the Phelps and Son Funeral Home on Friday, November 27, 2020. Burial will follow in the Highland Memorial Park, Staffordsville. B.Joe Hill will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Van Lear Historical Society by contacting the Phelps & Son Funeral Home, (606) 789-8989.
I’d like to share a memory of mine today of a dear customer we just lost. This is Bill Rucker, a Veteran of WWII. A few years ago, Bill got selected to fly to Washington, D.C. as a part of the Honor Flight Kentucky program. Their mission is to fly World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans to Washington, D.C. for a one-day all-expenses-paid trip to visit the memorials that are dedicated to their service and sacrifices.
Bill brought me a patch from his old uniform and asked me to fix me a jacket so he could wear it on his trip. You could just tell how proud he was about his upcoming journey. My Dad, who has always been compassionate about giving back to our Veterans spoke with Bill and even bought his jacket. He started coming to our D-Day events at Cloud 9 and this picture was taken at the last one he attended. He was planning on taking another plane ride when he hit 100 years old with my Dad.
Rest easy our friend. Hopefully you eat good food in Heaven before your Cloud 9 Chocolate cake!!
——-Lauren
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