John Otha Tuck

John Otha Tuck, 85, loving husband of Ann (Newman) Tuck, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2016 in Lynchburg, Virginia, surrounded by family and loved ones.

John was born to the late Otha and Bertha Tuck on April 9, 1931 in the house his father built on the family farm in Moneta in Bedford County, Virginia. The youngest of three children, he grew up in a humble but loving home that, at his birth, had no electricity, indoor plumbing or heating. His family ate dinner together every night and went to church together every Sunday; his mother Bertha cooked on a wood stove and played the piano; and his father Otha ran the farm and wore many hats – including that of amateur surgeon when he was called upon in 1936 to reattach five-year-old John’s severed thumb following an accident with an axe.

As a curious and energetic boy, John fed the chickens and hogs, watered the horses, milked the cows and shucked corn – and learned to love baseball, shoot marbles, play cards and listen to hillbilly music on the radio. He even figured out how to motorize his bicycle to increase the scope of his explorations. Eager to see the world, John enlisted in the Navy at 17 in 1948 and served as an electrician on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean, visiting France, Sicily, Greece and Italy.

Home on leave in 1950, he met his future wife Ann at a ballgame, but their courtship was interrupted by the outbreak of the Korean War. The young couple exchanged daily letters for a year and a half while John was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. When he was finally discharged in 1952 they married, and after honeymooning with his new bride in Williamsburg, John settled into a long and satisfying career in the textile business at Burlington Industries. He retired in 1999 after 46 years, pleased to have witnessed the world turn over many times during his lifetime.

A survivor of 14 major operations, including kidney, hernia, heart, hip and cancer surgeries, John reckoned that growing up on a farm made him tough, and that having so much to live for made him a good patient. Recently asked how he wanted to be remembered, the octogenarian said he wanted folks to remember that he loved to gab, he loved his family, and he loved the Lord. A faithful and active Christian throughout his long and fruitful life, he served with great pride as a Deacon at the First Baptist Church of Altavista, where he and Ann regularly made the rounds after Sunday worship to deliver bulletins and visit with their homebound fellow parishioners.

John always said the key to a successful marriage is learning the phrase “Yes, dear,” which he happily employed throughout his 64 years with Ann, who fussed over him, kept him smiling and lent him great comfort in his last days.

John Otha Tuck was preceded in death by his sister Sabra Plymale. In addition to his beloved wife Ann, he is survived by his brother Harold Tuck of Bedford; son Phillip (Tressa) Tuck of Nashville TN; daughter Sandra (Stan) Finch of Altavista; son David (Barbara) Tuck of Willow Grove PA; grandchildren Michael Finch and his friend Kim Pearman, Sullivan (Elizabeth) Tuck, Madison Tuck and her friend Nick Moore; Chris (Lindsay) Tuck, Zachary (Lauren) Tuck, Courtney Tuck and her friend Chris Hinkson; and great-grandchildren Grayson Tuck, Hallie Tuck and Wade Tuck.

A memorial service will be held at 1PM on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at the First Baptist Church of Altavista at 1001 Bedford Avenue, Altavista, VA 24517. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to First Baptist’s “Raise The Roof” (434)-369-5837 / fbcaltavista.org). Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family (434-237-9424).

The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to Runk & Pratt at Liberty Ridge and Seven Hills Hospice for the loving care they provide for all their patients.