He was born in Chugwater, Wyo. to Gerald John and Merrill Brown Tucker. His older brother Gerald Tennyson, predeceased him. Mr. Tucker, a member of &uot;The Greatest Generation,&uot; was a decorated WWII veteran in the U.S. Army Air Corps, 14th Air Force &uot;Flying Tigers.&uot; He received the Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal W/OLC; ROC Distinguished Service Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal W/Star. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 10677 in Casper, Wyo.

Mr. Tucker received a degree from the University of Wyoming after returning from active duty. At his retirement, he was Vice President and C.F.O. of Salt Creek Freightways Company, headquartered in Casper, Wyo.&bsp; He was a member of St. Mark&39;s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. for over 60 years, and attended The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Tryon, since his move to the area in 2005. One of Mr. Tucker&39;s proudest moments was being recognized by President George W. Bush in the Oval Office of the White House, in May of 2006, along with ten other Flying Tiger Squadron members of the 14th Air Force, with whom he served in WWII.&bsp; He was accompanied by his daughter, Donna Heinzenknecht, grandson Greg Michael, and great-grandson, Thomas Michael.

Surviving include his dear wife of 64 years, Melba Joslyn Tucker at Autumn Care Saluda; his daughter Donna Tucker Heinzenknecht and her husband Barrie of Landrum; his son Robert D. Tucker and his wife Deanna of Spokane, Wash.&bsp; Three other sons, Terry, Scot, and Michael Tucker predeceased him. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Greg Michael and wife Priscilla of Atlanta, Ga.; Jeffrey Tucker and wife Amy, and Kimberly Tucker of Spokane, Wash.; Forest Heinzenknecht and wife Elizabeth of Philadelphia, Pa.; and Derek Joslyn Tucker of Casper, Wyo.; and five great-grandchildren: Thomas, Julia and Jonathan Michael, and Aiden and Gavin Tucker; as well as sister-in-law Joan Stroud and husband Clarke of Denver, Colo., and nephews John Tucker of Flint, Mich., Glen Stroud and Ted Stroud of Denver, Colo., Joel Stroud of Houston, Texas, Don Stroud of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Don Joslyn of Eagle Point, Ore. who predeceased him;&bsp; and nieces Jerrilyn Tucker of Oro Valley, Ariz., Joslyn Aitken of Laguna Beach, Calif., and Jennifer Stroud of Denver, Colo.

A memorial service will be held at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Tryon, on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 2 p.m. with Father Michael Doty officiating. The family will receive friends at the church after the service. A graveside service will be held later this summer in Casper, Wyo.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, N.C. 28722, or to The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross, P.O. Box 279, Tryon, N.C. 28782. &bsp;

An online guest register is available for signing at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel of Tryon is in charge of arrangements.

‐ paid obituary