John Randolph "Ran" Tucker

John Randolph Tucker

John Randolph Tucker passed away Monday, December 7, 2009, at the age of 93.

John was born on February 2, 1916, in Lowesville, Amherst County, Virginia.

His nickname was "Ran". He referred to his various friends and acquaintances as "Jerk", "Stoop", "Yardbird", or "Rummy".

He married Maxine Grace Hansen of Long Beach, California in 1938.

He resided for many years in Waynesboro. For the last year and half of his life he was a resident of Shenandoah Nursing home, where he passed away, peacefully.

His parents were the late Frank Herbert and Margaret Tucker of Waynesboro. John was the fifth of seven children. He attended Waynesboro High School and was a member of the 1933 baseball team.

After high school, he joined the Navy where he rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer on the USS Louisville "Lady Lou", during World War II. He fought in the Solomon and Aleutians Campaigns, and at Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands, Eniwetok, Luzon, and Okinawa.

After an honorable discharge in 1946, he arrived home to work with his dad and brother to open Tucker's Market on East Main Street in Waynesboro. Later, they expanded the market to Tucker's Wholesale Fruit and Produce.

After 20 years in the produce business, John took over the Blue Ridge Service Station, also located on East Main. In 1975 he sold the business and retired.

During his retirement years John and Maxine did a lot of traveling throughout the United States in their motor home, visiting family and friends across the country. John loved to eat and never passed up a good meal. He especially loved the old cafeteria style restaurants.

John was a Charter member of the Waynesboro Westminster Presbyterian Church, and a former Board member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elk's Lodge, and Waynesboro Retail Merchants Association.

John is survived by three children, John F. Tucker of San Luis Obispo, California, Linda Weaver of Waynesboro, and Stephen R. Tucker, of Ramona, California; seven grandchildren: Pam Erdman, John Tucker Jr., Kurt Tucker, Angica Weaver, Brian Weaver, Ryan Tucker, Brenna Tucker; and seven great-grandchildren.

John was a dedicated husband and father, businessman, and Veteran. He loved to socialize. He will be missed by all. We Love you Dad.

Graveside services will be held 11 a.m.Saturday, December 12, at the Augusta Memorial Park. A reception will immediately follow at the Tucker family home, 617 Rosser Avenue, Waynesboro, VA.

Funeral Arrangements will be handled by McDow Funeral Home, Waynesboro.

Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdowfuneralhomeinc.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.