Mr. Thomas Mallory Tucker, Sr., 89, died Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at Mountain View, the family home in Lowesville. He was born December 17, 1927, also at Mountain View, to the late Walter Lowrie and Janice Thomas Tucker. He returned to Mountain View in 1981 and appreciated being able to care for the home in which he spent his formative years. He was a kind, loyal and gentle-hearted man whose devotion and integrity was an inspiration to his family and friends.
Mr. Tucker graduated from Temperance High School and was a member of the Class of ‘48B of Virginia Military Institute, where he earned a BS in Civil Engineering. After teaching physical education at Amherst County High School for a year, he returned to Mountain View to form a partnership with his father and pursue his passion for operating the family farm and orchards. Upon Mr. Tucker’s retirement, his son, Bill, subsequently took over the farming operations. Mr. Tucker represented Erie Family Life Insurance Company for 30 years, and was a lifelong member of Ivy Hill United Methodist Church of the Mount Pleasant Charge, the Temperance Ruritan Club for more than 60 years, the Virginia Farm Bureau, and the Winton Country Club and the “Shut Up and Deal” bridge clubs. In addition to playing bridge, his hobbies included golf, reading, investing in the stock market, and watching college football and basketball games.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Tucker was preceded in death by his wives Geraldine (Jerry) Martin Tucker and Mary Phipps Tucker, and his brother, Walter Lowrie Tucker, Jr.
Mr. Tucker is survived by his sister, Alice Lewis Johnson of Charlottesville, sister-in-law, Henrietta (Holly) Martin of Callands, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Don and Pat Pafford of Amherst County, and his children Mike and Beth Gamble, Bill and Claudia Tucker, and Preston and Martha Tucker all of Amherst County, Martha (Marty) and Rick Dyke of Rio Rancho, NM, Tom and Krista Tucker of Warrenton, Meredith Tucker Lindel of Winston-Salem, NC, Mark Gamble of Canonsburg, PA, fifteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
The family is grateful for the kindness and devotion of Gloria Mays, Linda Richerson and Shane Shelton in assisting Mr. Tucker in recent times.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Temperance Ruritan Club Scholarship Program, PO Box 915, Amherst, VA 24521 or Amherst Cares, c/o Emmanuel United Methodist Church, PO Box 451, Amherst, VA 24521.
A celebration of Mr. Tucker’s life will be held Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ivy Hill church building on Indian Creek Rd in Amherst County. The family will welcome guests at Mountain View following the service.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family. To send condolences please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.