Barbara Anne Tuck

Barbara Anne (Jones) Tuck passed from this world on March 20, 2022 at age 89 at the Freedom Square Nursing Pavilion.  Barbara was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Thomas K Tuck, Sr. and is survived by her three children, Pamela Tuck Saari (Mark), Leslie Tuck, and Thomas Tuck Jr. (Ann Marie); her six beloved grandchildren, Nicole Saari Civello (Steve), Stephanie Saari Caldwell (Andrew), Jared Tuck, Melissa Tuck Ross (Andrew), Cailin Tuck; and her four precious great-grandchildren, Stephen Civello, Claire Civello, Hudson Caldwell and Quinn Caldwell.  She is also survived by two sisters, four brothers and many nieces and nephews.

Barbara was born October 18, 1932 to Benjamin and Edna Jones in East Armstrong, Pennsylvania at the family home.  Barbara was the sixth child of the eventual nine boys and four girls born to her parents, all of which lived to adulthood.  Barbara always cherished her large family and visited with them as often as she could after moving to Florida in 1962.

Barbara grew up in Indiana County, Pennsylvania where her parents relocated when she was still quite young.  They eventually moved to a large farm house in Lucerne Mines, Pennsylvania, near where her father worked.  She attended schools in Lucerne Mines and Homer City, where she met the love of her life, Thomas K. Tuck.  With such a large family, there was always plenty of work to be done and everyone had to pitch in and help.  Barb always loved caring for her younger brothers and sisters and preferred playing with them outdoors rather than cooking and cleaning in the house with her Mother and two older sisters.

Barb left her family home in 1952 to marry Tom after he returned from the Korean War and completed his service in the Marine Corp.  They embarked upon a satisfying life together – first at Penn State University where Tom studied engineering via the GI Bill while Barb worked to support the family, and then near Akron, Ohio where Tom worked for Goodyear Aircraft, and finally to Florida in 1962 when Tom went to work for Honeywell Inc. in their Clearwater, Florida facility.  During these years Barb gave birth to three children and worked hard raising them and providing a happy home for everyone.

Barbara was always volunteering to help with her children’s activities and served in various capacities as a school room mother, Girl Scout leader, Girl Scout District Cookie Chairman, Little League concession stand manager and other outside activities too numerous to mention.  She helped tremendously with her various grandchildren, babysitting and caring for them when they were sick, taking them shopping, driving them places and just generally being a wonderful Grandma.   Throughout the years, she always managed to prepare delicious meals for her family and keep her house in immaculate condition.  She was always known for making the best potato salad, the best turkey and stuffing, the best roast beef and mashed potatoes, and of course the best fried egg sandwiches.

Barb took up tennis after her kids were grown and played at a number of clubs and in various leagues in Pinellas County.  She had a very competitive spirit and became quite adept at the game and even won a USTA Senior Team National Championship when she was over age 70.  Tom took up tennis as well, and they spent many enjoyable hours playing and socializing with the friends they met through the game.  Barb also welcomed pro-tour tennis players into her home to stay when they were in town for tournaments, and did a lot of volunteer work when the Davis Cup tournament came to Pinellas County.  It should be noted that none of her children were ever able to beat her at tennis.

Barb enjoyed all kinds of sports and attended many Buccaneer and Tampa Bay Rays games during the time she and Tom had season tickets.    In her later years Barb enjoyed reading books, watching movies and arranging photo albums featuring all her loved ones and the adventures she and Tom had.

Barbara will be buried in the Bay Pines National Cemetery alongside her husband Tom.  Her surviving family members will be gathering for a celebration of her life in the near future.  Barbara will be dearly missed by all her family members and will be forever loved and fondly remembered in everyone’s hearts.  The family would like to thank Suncoast Hospice for all their assistance during the final year of Barbara’s life as well as Dawn, a special caretaker at Freedom Square.