RICHARD F. TUCKER

Richard F. Tucker, 91, passed away Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, at Sunshine Haven Hospice Facility in Olmito, Texas.

Dick, as he was affectionately known to all, was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. He attended schools in both North Carolina and Virginia before spending a year in the Coast Artillery before Pearl Harbor. After World War II was declared, Dick joined the Cadets. He went through West Coast training in Santa Ana, California, Tulare and Lemoore, and graduated Williams Field Class 43-A. Dick remained at Williams Field as an instructor and Engineering Officer in P-38s until early 1944, when he was sent to Florida for P-47 training. Shortly after that, Dick entered the ETO and was assigned to the 356th Fighter Group in the 359th Squadron.

This group used P-47's for almost every type of mission in the ETO, from top cover air support, concentrated bombings, destroying roads, bridges, rails and trains to tank support and flak diversion for paratroopers. Before May 8, VE-Day, Dick's group switched to the P-51 Mustang. Dick flew 75 missions in the European Theater Operations and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, four Oak Clusters and the Presidential Unit Citation. Dick left the group as Captain Flight Commander.

Captain Tucker returned to the states and was reassigned in Florida flying P-39's, P-40's and P-63's before being released from active duty.

When asked what was his most memorable mission while flying a P-47, Dick recalls it occurred in 1944 in Southern France, "while strafing down a street in a small town I received a direct hit by an 88mm, fired from a German tank. The hit was in a wing and flipped the Jug on its back. Full throttle and a lot of crossed controls righted the aircraft and I flew back over 200 miles to home base, but it was a total loss from the 88mm hit."

After Captain Tucker was released from active duty, he returned to his civilian life but continued to fly freight in the U.S., Mexico, and South America.

In 1947, Dick married Emily Vivian McBride and started a family. Dick worked at Pan Am Foods before starting his own independent insurance adjusting business, primarily handling aircraft claims. During that time, Dick was an active member of the OFA-Official Flying Adjusters, as well as an active member of the Civil Air Patrol. After 50 years in the insurance adjusting business, Dick retired to study and become a licensed Texas home inspector. In 2008 Dick retired again.

In 2010, the Department of Transportation of the Federal Aviation Association awarded Dick F. Tucker with the Wright Brothers' Master Pilot Award, recognizing 50 years or more of consecutive safe flight operations.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Callie and Zeb Tucker; his wife, Emily Vivian Tucker; and two sisters.

Left behind to eternally treasure their memories of Dick are his three children: Tom F. (Marion) Tucker, Vivian (Meme) Zapata and Catherine White; two grandchildren: Colleen Zapata and Reagan White; three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dick was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed not only by his family, but by all those fortunate to have known him.

"Off you go in to the wild blue yonder, Climbing High into the sun…."

The Rev. Dr. Terry Bozarth will officiate at the Celebration of Life Service at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, in the East Chapel at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. Committal services will follow at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens.

The American Legion John Hanson Post 43 Funeral Honor Guard will render military honors at the graveside.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Dick's name may be made to Sunshine Haven, 7105 West Lakeside Blvd., Olmito, Texas 78575.

You may view the obituary, sign the guestbook and send your condolences online to the Tucker family @www.darlingmouser.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, Texas 78520, 956-546-7111.