Donald B. Tucker (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Donald Boyd Tucker, son of August and Laura Kiniman Tucker, was born October 2, 1932, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma. He departed this life Tuesday, July 2, 2019, in his home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-six years, and nine months.
On August 2, 1958, he was united in marriage to Emma Marie Stevens, and to this union three daughters and one son were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Donna Phelps; a brother, Bob; and four sisters, Vera, Lois, Doris, and Lorene.
Don is survived by his loving wife of sixty years, Emma, of the home; two daughters, Cynthia Wood and Rissa Root, and her husband, Bryan, all of Lebanon, Missouri; a son, Bruce Tucker, and his wife, Leticia, of Conroe, Texas; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends
He was raised in Oklahoma, and then entered the military as a young man. He served his country faithfully in the United States Army for twenty years, beginning with his basic training in Hawaii. He was stationed in Germany, and then served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He later was stationed in Hawaii and Iceland. For his distinguished years of service he was awarded many medals, certificates and awards; one of which was a Purple Heart. After officially retiring from the Army, he and Emma moved to Bourbon, Missouri for a few years. The family then moved to Lebanon where Don owned a package store and in real estate for several years. He was employed by the Laclede County Assessor’s Office for ten years.
Don was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Lebanon.
He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 4107 in Lebanon, where he served two terms as Commander. He was the leader of the V.F.W. Honor Guard for ten years and was instrumental in helping establish the Veteran’s Circle in Mount Rose Memorial Park and the Veteran’s Memorial at the Cowan Civic Center. He always helped promote all kinds of events for veterans in Laclede County. He was recognized by his fellow citizens as a Hometown Hero in 2010.
Don was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that he will be fondly remembered as a loving family man, a dedicated soldier, and a great supporter of veterans. He truly was a “Patriot at Heart!”
Memorial donations to Alzheimers Foundation or The Wounded Warriors may be made at the funeral home.
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