Robert E. Tucker

WILLIAMSTOWN – Robert (Bob) Edwin Tucker, 85, a long-time resident passed away suddenly on Monday, September 2, 2019 at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.

Born on April 21, 1934 in Barre, VT, he was the son of Wesley and Dorothy (Gordon) Tucker.

Bob attended Barre elementary schools and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1952. He maintained several very close friendships with classmates and looked forward to the class reunions that he helped organize. After graduation, he and his brother operated the City View Dairy before Bob joined the U.S. Army until he was honorably discharged in 1959.

On August 22, 1964 he married Joan Nelson in the Barre Congregational Church. For fifty-two years, they made their home on Sunnyside Lane in Williamstown before they moved to Mayo Residential Care in Northfield three years ago.

In his earlier years, Bob was the proprietor of the Vermont Music Company and then for most of working life he was a rural letter carrier for the United States Postal Service beginning in 1971. He continued his service as an active member and officer of the National Rural Letter Carrier Association as well as the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

Bob was a sixty-plus year member of the Barre Congregational Church where he sang in the choir and shared his gift for cooking, chairing the Chicken Pie Supper, Strawberry Festival, and Church Fair committees for numerous years. He served many additional roles in the church during his life including deacon and treasurer. In addition to singing in the church choir, Bob also sang acapella in the Montpelier Barbershoppers, and later the Gentlemen Songsters, performing at weddings and various community events.

He loved animals and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family and friends, singing, cooking, and donating meals to those in need. Bob had a very special gift – he was always there for others and very generously gave of himself, especially with his immediate and extended family.   The Boy Scouts of America honored and recognized his many contributions by bestowing him with a “Man of the Year” award, and in 1988 presenting him with the Silver Beaver Award from the Green Mountain Council for his distinguished service as a scout leader. Bob was also a member of the Jaycees and later a JCI Senator where he served as president of the Vermont Chapter in 1984.

Bob will be lovingly remembered by Joan, his wife of 55 years; daughter Rebecca (Becky) Aitchison and her husband, Brian and grandchildren, Elizabeth and Connor of Berlin, VT; son James and his wife, Margo of Hamden, CT; sister Marilyn Blake and her husband, Wendell of East Barre, VT; and sister-in-law Margaret Harlow and her husband, Don of Putney, VT; multiple generations of nieces, nephews, and cousins, and of course long-time friends. His determination, sharp wit, and generosity will be missed.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Raymond Tucker and his sisters Roselyn Partridge and Nancy Spear.

The service to honor and celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Barre Congregational Church. Following the service, interment will be made in the Wilson Cemetery in Websterville. Family and friends may call on Thursday, September 5, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice. Checks by mail should be made payable to CVHHH (mail to: CVHHH, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641) or online via https://www.cvhhh.org/donating-to-cvhhh/make-an-online-donation/ .

His family wishes to thank all the health professionals who provided care to Bob over the past several years.