William H. Tucker, Jr., 84, of St. Petersburg, FL died Monday, April 20, 2009 at Bay Pines VA Medical Center. He was surrounded by his family who loved him and will miss him dearly.
Born November 15, 1924 in Griffin, GA, he graduated from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, VA in 1941. He was an ROTC cadet at VA Tech, where he studied Civil Engineering and was a German Club member. He remained a proud Hokie his entire life. The Army drafted him in 1944 and he later obtained a BS from University of Maryland, an MS from George Washington University and completed two years of graduate work in nuclear physics at the University of Virginia.
After entering Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned as a 2nd LT in Field Artillery at age 19. His service included: Army of Occupation in Japan, 97th Infantry Division; 11th Airborne Division including parachute and glider school; and 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC from 1948-50 where he met and married his wife of 59+ years, Joyce Highsmith.
Other assignments included: Korean War, 2nd Infantry Division; Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS; SETAF, Verona Italy; Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA; three tours in the Pentagon (R&D, Gen Staff, and Joint Chiefs of Staff); Vietnam War as Commanding Officer, MR2 Artillery; Brussels, Belgium as defense advisor to the US Ambassador to NATO; and Army Test and Evaluation Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Decorations: Two Bronze Stars for valor and meritorious service in the Korean War; three Legions of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal; three Army Commendation Medals; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Air Medal and Vietnamese Gallantry Cross.
He retired from the Army as a Colonel in 1976 and began his second career at Merrill Lynch in St. Petersburg, FL. He retired in 1997 as a Vice President.
He was a loving husband and wonderful father to his five children. He is survived by his wife Joyce; three daughters, Barbara Wiseman, Cynthia Wheeler, and Pamela Vasilevskis; his son James Tucker and grandchildren Christina, Michael, Eric, Marcus and William. He passed away on the birthday of his first child Juliette Tucker who died of leukemia as a young child.
Memorial services are scheduled for 2pm on Friday, April 24, at the Maximo Presbyterian Church, 3200 58th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712. Interment with full military honors, next to daughter Juliette, will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on August 31 at 1pm.
Memorial donations may be made to Maximo Presbyterian Church – Celebration Fund, or the charity of your choice.
My prayers go out to the entire Tucker Family. I pray for God’s peace to each of you now and in the future.
Marcus Family
Franklin,TN.
Our prayers are with the family. May the love of God bring them peace.
Judi and Brian
dear joyce, pam, barbara and jim…
lydia and i genuinely share our love, compassion and friendship to you and your families over the passing away of a true american hero, your daddy. the fact he died on the very calendar date, 420, which your late sister was born, is something to cherish. the fact his suffering has ceased has to be comforting to you as he is no doubt in heaven now smiling down on you.
the four or five occasions we saw bill were filled with energy, history, enthusiasm and fun. he seemed to really loosen up with us (imagine that !) and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with joyce and him. i am amazed,proud and appreciative of his very distinguished military service record. the highest honor our country pays a family of a military hero devoted to america will be afforded your deserving family monday, august 31 as he is finally laid to rest at arlington cemetery. we hope you never forget that upcoming tribute to your wonderful father as well as the friday memorial service at maximo presbyterian .
cherish the fond memories you shared with him over these years and rejoice for his heavenly reward as friends ,admirers and family gather around you to celebrate his accomplished life. clearly he set the example of what’s right for you and your children and believed in god, country and family always.
may god continue to bless each of you.lydia and i hope every single time you contemplate his life, warm warm feelings of love fill you and big smiles cross your faces. your dad stood for goodness and thank you for sharing him with us.
joyce, barbara, cindy and jim, return to good ole nashville soon as we guarantee you warm hospitality, smiles and love !
respectfully,
george
On behalf of the Collins Family, we are deeply saddened by the loss of a such a great man. His accomplishments speak for themselves. His memory will be eternal.
Fran and Jim,and family,
May the Lord God grant Peace and Rest to your beloved father; husband; grandfather, Bill. I pray that you all find the strength and love to find comfort in the pain you all feel for your loss, but I pray that you remember all the wonderful and loving memories that is within all your hearts forever. . . . and with remembering all the love and happiness that you all were blessed with, will help to heal your pain in all your hearts.
with Christs love and guidance,may you find the peace through this sad time in your lives,
with love and hugs, Anna
We have lost a wonderful man! In addition to being a “TRUE American Hero”, this soldier was sweet and generous and so much fun. May God be with all of you during this difficult time.
Another Hokie in heaven…may his memory be eternal.
With sympathy and love,
Ron and Christine
May his memory be eternal. My condolences to the family, especially to Jim, Theophania and Christina.
May his memory be eternal. My condolences to the family, especially to Jim, Theophania and Christina.
Jim, Fran, and Christina:
My prayers and thoughts go out to you during this tough time. He truly was a hero to our country and I can imagine a wonderful and loving grandfather, dad, and husband. May God’s grace and love be with you always. With love eternal, Nicholas, Amita, and Anjali Gavalas
Jim, Francene,Christina and the entire Tucker family: My thoughts and prayers are with you as you mourn the loss of your fathergradnfather and husband and celebrate his life. May his memory be eternal. Love as always, Penny
Jim, Fran, Christina and the Tucker family….our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. We are saddended for your loss and pray that God’s peace will ease your suffering. Celebrate the life of your father, father-in-law, and gradfather for the wonderful man, father, and true American hero he was.
Guy and Paulette Gebhardt
Jim and Fran…Our prayers, thoughts and love are with you and your entire family.
We pray that your hearts and souls will find peace and comfort during this sad and difficult time. Your father was indeed a great American. May his memory be eternal.
With heartfelt sympathy and much love, Donnis and Joe
My prayers go out to the family.
May his memory be eternal.
May God bless the Tucker Family. Sincerely, Kim
May your wonderful memories comfort you during this difficult time of loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Rose Eppich and family.
I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep the entire family in my thoughts and prayers!
Jim and Fran, your family is in our prayers.
Jim and Fran, your family is in our prayers.
Jim and Fran, your family is in our prayers.
My thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends who knew and loved Mr. Tucker. May God bless him and receive him. May his smile and the beautiful memories you shared shine brightly in your hearts forever. With sympathy and love, Amber
Jim, Fran and the Tucker Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Your father lived a life of service for which I am very grateful.
MY DEAR CINDY,JOYCE, PAM,JIM,BARBARA, IN THIS SAD HOUR,I WANT ALL OF YOU TO KNOW THAT MY THOUGHTS,AND WONDERFUL MEMORIES ARE WITH THE FIVE OF YOU. I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THE TIMES I HAD WITH THE COLONES,REMEMBER HE CALLED ME ’JACK MY BOY’ JOYCE,I HOPE YOU KNOW HOW GRATRFUL I AM TO YOU AND BILL FOR ALL THE LOVE YOU SHARED WITH ME. NOTHING I COOULD SAY NOW, COULD EVER ADD TO THE THOUGHTS AND LOVE I WILL ALWAYS KEEP IN MY HEART FOR EVERYONE OF YOU. IN THE DAYS AHEAD OF ALL OF US,I WILL KEEP ALL FIVE OF YOU CLOSE TO ME IN MY THOUGHTS. JACK
Jim, Fran, Christina and Family
Our hearts and prayers go out to you at this sad time.
May his memory be eternal.
Love to all of you.
May God Bless Your Family At This Time.
My Dear Friend Cynthia, Joyce, Pam, Barb, and Jim,
My heart is heavy for you all as you face the world without this beautiful man and cherished friend. An enormous loss for all who had the privledge of knowing him, his spirit will live on in all of you. May God bless you all in this time of great sorrow. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
My mother forwarded an email telling of Mr. Tucker’s passing. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you all!
Elizabeth Driscoll
Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers to Jim, Fran, Christina and the Tucker family for your loss. The “Greatest Generation” will be remembered forever. May his memory be eternal.