Ruth Elizabeth Tucker

Ruth Elizabeth Strain Tucker died June 9, 2019. She was born in Plainfield, New Jersey to Walter and May Strain. She was preceded in death by her parents and her older brother, Bob Strain. She grew up in Plainfield and graduated from Plainfield High School in 1939 at age 17. She attended Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey) for a year. When her parents moved to Evanston, Illinois, she attended National College of Education (now National-Louis University) graduating with a Bachelor's of Education in 1943. That same year, she married Rev. Dr. Frank C. Tucker, Jr. a United Methodist Minister.

During their 53-year marriage, Ruth assisted Frank in serving churches he pastored. This began in Elsberry, Missouri and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Frank served a church for English speaking Protestants for three years. The family returned to the United States in 1947 where Frank served a church in Westerly, Rhode Island while completing seminary at Yale University.

Upon his graduation, Frank was assigned to a church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Frank and Ruth later served churches in Springhill, Louisiana, and in Nevada, St. Louis, and St. Charles, Missouri. Ruth used her education credentials to teach Kindergarten and Elementary grades in several locations. They retired to Liberty, Missouri.

After they retired, Ruth and her husband volunteered at the Liberty Hospital Auxiliary. Ruth became the President of the organization. She was also active in Chapter IZ of PEO. At the Liberty United Methodist Church, she taught courses in adult religion and an adult Sunday School class.

Ruth is survived by three children, Frank C. Tucker III (Madeleine), Laurence R. Tucker (Sylvia) and Rev. Christine B. Tucker-Key, as well as six grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. She also survived by her sister-in-law, Elnora Tucker.

On Friday, June 14, at Liberty United Methodist Church (1001 Sunset, Liberty, Missouri 64048), Visitation will be held from 3:30 - 4:45 pm in the Family Life Center (enter lower level), followed by a service celebrating Ruth's life at 5:00 pm in the Sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the church.

Visitation will be held from 3:30 – 5:00 pm, followed by a service celebrating Ruth’s life at 5:00 pm, on Friday, June 14, at Liberty United Methodist Church, 1001 Sunset, Liberty, Missouri 64068.