Obituary of William Leon Rucker

Services for William Leon Rucker, 85, Lindale, formerly of Troup, are scheduled for 10:00 am, Saturday, June 20, at the Cottle Funeral Home chapel, Troup with Reverend Dave Wyrtzen officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be in the Rucker Cemetery, Troup. Mr. Rucker died Wednesday, June 17, in a Tyler hospice facility. He was born March 10, 1924, in Troup to the late William Ervin Rucker and Viola May Brown Rucker. He was a 1942 graduate of Troup High School. He had retired as a field supply appropriations manager for Texaco. Mr. Rucker was an Army veteran of World War II, serving 22 months in the Pacific Theater. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church, Troup. He and Fran Cooper Simpson were married in 1998 in Gladewater. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his first wife, Elaine Rucker, October 10, 1985 and by a sister, Aileen Casey, November 21, 2001. Survivors include his wife, Fran Rucker, Lindale; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Neil and Monina Rucker, Katy, Wayne and Bobbye Rucker, and Paul and Lynn Rucker, all of Troup, Larry Simpson, Tyler; a daughter and son-in-law, Suzy and Jack Gilbert, Colorado; a sister and brother-in-law, Louise and Hershel Wilkinson, Troup; 17 grandchildren; and 15 great- grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Will Rucker, Caleb Rucker, Jacob Rucker, Collin Rucker, Paul Rucker, II, Wesley Gilbert, Jonathan Gilbert, and James Simpson. Additional grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm, Friday, June 19.