Dates
On Friday January 20, 2017, God put in a call for a master auto mechanic. William Earl Rucker answered that call at 10:45 am. William (Bill) Earl Rucker was born on June 19, 1922 in Camp Springs, Texas to Eunice and Chester Rucker. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C. camp) when he was 17 to help out with family expenses. In 1942 he joined the Army in Snyder, TX. He did his basic training in Louisiana and Oklahoma where he was a member of the 173rd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion. In 1943, the 2nd Battalion was renamed the 985th Field Artillery Battalion. William Rucker drove a high speed M4 tractor, pulling a 155 mm Howitzer. The battalion left from New York headed for North Africa in 1943. Corporal Rucker pulled that "long tom" cannon in North Africa and later in southern Italy. He spent the rest of WW II pushing the Germans out of Italy until they surrendered in 1945. He was awarded several medals, made many friends and had many great adventures while serving his country as a young solider during World War II. After Bill was discharged from Ft. Bliss, El Paso, Texas, he came to San Angelo to visit his parents. While here he met his sweet wife, Glena and found a job with the construction crew building the O. C. Fisher Dam. He was a mechanic for Gandy's Dairies before he retired as a mechanic for Goodyear Proving Grounds. Bill and Glena joined Immanuel Baptist Church in 1958 and remained faithful members until God called them home. Glena preceded Bill in death one month before their 60th wedding anniversary in 2008. He was also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sister-in-laws and their daughter, Mary Rucker Groves. Bill is survived by his daughter, Jo Ann Flanary and husband Robert, his son-in-law Chuck Groves and wife Yvonne, sister Bennie Harris and husband Laurence. He also leaves to cherish his memory, grandchildren: Tonia Anderson and husband William, Scott Dillon and wife Stephanie, Jessica Coder and husband Joe, Jennifer Groves, Amy Norris and Sean Flanary, great grandchildren: Blake Rushing, Lauren Rushing, Lexi Anderson, Hunter Dillon, Gage Dillon, Madison Norris, and Sawyer Coder, and several nieces and nephews and their families. Visitation will be at Johnson's Funeral Home on Monday, January 23, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be at Immanuel Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, 2017. Pastor Tommy Richardson will officiate. Bill will be interred with full Military Honors in Four Gospels Garden at Johnson's Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo, TX. The family requests memorials be made to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers.