In Memoriam: 1930s

Notices sorted by graduation date

John Tinsley Rucker Jr. (Eng ’37) of Lynchburg, Virginia, died January 16, 2015. At the University, he received high honors as a first-year engineering student and was a member of Tau Beta Pi and Theta Tau engineering fraternities. He became a member of the Raven Society in 1936. After graduation, Mr. Rucker went on to receive master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Cincinnati and worked in research and development for Hooker Chemical Company in Niagara Falls, New York. During and following World War II, he performed research related to aspects of the Manhattan Project. At the time of his retirement in 1979 he was manager of chemical research at the Niagara Falls division of Occidental Petroleum Corporation. Mr. Rucker enjoyed a long retirement, working and gardening on his property outside Lynchburg and having multigenerational family gatherings. Survivors include his wife; four children, including John T. Rucker III (Col ’66, Darden ’68 L/M) and Barbara Rucker Hancock (Nurs ’68); and seven grandchildren, including John T. Rucker IV (Col ’92).