Robert Edward Rucker

Robert Edward Rucker Obituary Robert Edward Rucker, 92, of Mineral Wells, Texas, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on March 3, 2022. He was born as the oldest son to Reade Earl Rucker and Ina Lorene Carter in Santo on July 14, 1929. Growing up, he was raised in and around the Santo, Brazos, and Mineral Wells areas until he joined the U.S. Navy at 17 years old. He was a World War II veteran serving three years of that time aboard the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Tarawa, on which he was able to be a part of their world cruise in the late 1940s. After the Navy, he became a pilot and flew for a short time with two major airlines. Then he went to work for the Department of Navy Bureau of Naval Weapons and was fortunate to spend seven of those years on “loan” to NASA. He retired with 37 years of service, at the age of 57, in 1986. Since that time he has enjoyed working outdoors and hunting and fishing, as well as spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Bonnie Jo (Harris) Rucker, his sons, David and wife, Brenda of Weatherford and Danny and wife Cindy of Santo, and his daughter, Paula and husband Larry of Millsap. He also is survived by all of his eight grandchildren and his eleven great grandchildren. Services for Robert will be held at 2 P.M. on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Dobbs Valley Cemetery, 10000 South U.S. Highway 281 Mineral Wells, TX 76067.