Obituary of Thelma Tucker

THELMA TAYLOR TUCKER Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend passed away June 27, 2010 at home with family after a long struggle with Alzheimer?s disease. She was born September 5, 1920 in Iron Gate, VA. to Walter and Mamie Taylor, and was the middle child of three girls. She was predeceased by her parents and two sisters, Mrs. Ernestine Nicely and Mrs. Anna Mae Slater. She lost her two husbands, her first, Mr. George Kumm, lost his life in WWII as a bombardier pilot. Mr. David Howard Tucker, loving husband and father of her two children passed away August 21, 1989 after forty-three years of a wonderful life together. He was a WWII veteran in the 8th Air Force Division and also was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, playing in the farm league in Lynchburg, Mr. Tucker turned down advancing in the leagues, choosing the love of his life instead, Thelma. Mrs. Tucker lived in Iron Gate, Virginia until the age of 18 when she went to Staunton, Virginia and trained at Western State Hospital in practical nursing and also received a business degree. She worked at Sea Isle City, New Jersey Children?s Hospital with mentally handicapped children, and later for the telephone company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as an operator during WW II. Mrs. Tucker was a charter member of Timberlake United Methodist Church where she was active until her illness. She was a member of the United Methodist Women?s Society and teacher of the Truscott Adult Bible Classes. In her earlier years, she taught the third grade Sunday School Class, and was a member of the Church Choir. She was a member of the Brookville-Timberlake Women?s Club. She was a wonderful home-maker and excellent cook, and we will especially remember her home-made yeast rolls. She is survived by her two children, son, David A. Tucker and wife, Candy, and daughter, Krista Tucker Rawls, all of Forest, VA. Four grandchildren, Jenni Tucker Waldrop of Midlothian, Va., Sara Jane Rawls of Lynchburg, Va., David Neal Tucker of Richmond, Va., and Krista Lynn Rawls of Lynchburg, Va., and three great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved immensely. Also, Richard D. Rawls, former son-in-law, who was of significant and loving care to our mom during the last two months of her life. Visitation will be at Diuguid Waterlick Chapel Tuesday evening, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM and a graveside service will be held at Fort Hill Memorial Park at 12:30 PM Wednesday, June 30, 2010, by the Reverend C. Douglas Pillow, and the Reverend Rob Cowell of Timberlake United Methodist Church. Special thanks to Mrs. Peggy Ford for eight years of wonderful care to Mrs. Tucker, and more recently to Sheril Padgett, Jeannette Haskins, Gwen Banks, D.J. Rawls, and Ryan Taylor Fanning. Special thanks also to Dr. David Smith and the staff of Access Medical in Forest, Va, for their caring and compassionate attention to Mrs. Tucker. In lieu of flowers, please remember the Alzheimer? Association or the Patrick Henry Boys & Girls Home.