William "Bill" Sanders Tucker

1931 - 2021

William "Bill" Sanders Tucker was born on March 21, 1931, in Glendale, to William Sanders Tucker and Mattie Bell Fagan Floyd Tucker. He crossed over to eternity on Oct. 14, 2021, from complications of congestive heart failure and renal disease. Bill grew up in Lincoln and Jefferson counties.  He was the youngest of 13 siblings and the only child of William and Mattie Bell.  His father passed away when he was 8 years old.  His older brother, Leonard, supported him and his mom and taught Bill at a young age to work hard and provide for his family.  Bill graduated as salutatorian from Star City High School in 1949. There he lettered in football, basketball and track and read every book in the high school library. After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy. He proudly fought in the Korean War. When his service to his country was completed, he used the GI Bill to get an electrical engineering degree from the University of Arkansas. He supported the Razorbacks and wore his college ring until his final breath. During summer breaks from the U of A, he checked cotton across the state of Arkansas. It was during this time he met his future wife, Kathryn Ann Teer. They were married on Aug. 16, 1956. They were married for 63 years until she passed away in June 2020. Bill's first job, after completing his bachelor degree, was in Pine Bluff at Central Transformer (now Central Moloney). While living in Pine Bluff, he and Kathryn had two daughters, Barbara and Cindy. He was a licensed, professional engineer and member of the IEEE. In 1973, he moved his family to Dyersburg, Tennessee, where he was the general manager of ERMCO. He moved to Benton in 1977, where he lived the remainder of his life. In his younger years, Bill's hobbies included bowling and fishing. Vacations were spent camping with his family in the Ozarks.  Bill was an excellent provider and took care of his immediate and extended family. Interest in family history led to his obsession with genealogy research. He became a respected researcher in the field of DNA genealogy. With his wife by his side, Bill watched his daughters, then his granddaughters, and finally his great-grandchildren play various sports.  He sometimes voiced his displeasure with umpires and referees to the point of being reprimanded. He raised beautiful roses, which he often cut and gave to Kathryn. Bill said he asked Jesus into his heart as a child but never got baptized.  He requested to be baptized before going into hospice. Pastor Rick Grant honored his request on Sept. 20, 2021. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Ray Tucker, Nancy "Lizzie" Tucker Moore, Cleo Tucker Branch, Vera Tucker Bates, Lennie Tucker MacDonald, Lillian Tucker, Basil Floyd, Eura Mae Floyd Johnson, Leonard Floyd, Ethel Floyd Smith, Hazel Floyd Tucker, Leava Floyd; and his beautiful wife, Kathryn Teer Tucker. He is survived by his daughters, Barbara Ketchum (Danny) and Cindy Covert; two granddaughters, Katie Clifton (Jared) and Kellie (GJ) Mayle; and seven great-grandchildren, Canyon, Mali, Lizah, and Mercy Clifton, Easton Snellings, Savannah and Adyson Mayle. Graveside services are 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, at Newman Cemetery, near Star City with Bill Baugh officiating.  Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, at Griffin Funeral Chapel and also 10:30 to 11 a.m. Monday at the cemetery. Arrangements by Griffin Funeral Service in Star City. Online guestbook at www.griffinfuneralservice.net.