George E. Tucker, 61, of Columbia, passed away Tuesday, October 26, 2004 with his wife and daughter at his bedside after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Born March 20, 1943, he was a twin son of the late William E. Tucker and Mary (Bellows) Tucker Palmer. Ed, as he was known, grew up in Columbia and attended Horace W. Porter School. He spent most of his childhood and teenage years working on local dairy farms. Joining the Army at age 17, he was stationed in France and Germany, driving trucks to provide supplies and received an award for the service he provided. He married Jeanne (Bilts) Tucker on January 21, 1967 and designed and built their home. Always a creative person, he enjoyed woodworking and painting. He loved animals and the beauty of nature. He also was an avid hunter and fisherman. He worked for 33 years at A&P in Willimantic and Mansfield, retiring from the Storrs location in 2001 when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. His greatest loves were the UConn women?s basketball team and his grandson Tucker, to whom he will always be Bubba. He will be greatly missed for his sense of humor, his love of animals and nature, and his willingness to help others. Besides his wife of 37 years, he is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Michael Doyle and their son, Tucker, of Oakdale; his twin brother and sister-in-law, William F., Sr. and Deborah Tucker of Milford, DE; his sister and brother-in-law Donna and Larry Kovacik of Manning, SC; as well as many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many friends: Theresa Licata, Susan Nosal and Laura Tomko, with whom he traveled to many Women?s Final Fours and Rodney Nosal whom he regarded as family; Bill Czelusniak of Columbia who helped him with his garden, was there for daily chats, and to help in any way he could; and his close friends Diana Mastrangelo; and Larry and Frank Kozikowski. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two sisters, Carol Tucker and Patricia (Tucker) Pohlar, and a nephew, William F. Tucker Jr. A graveside service will be held Friday at 11:00 a.m. in the New Willimantic Cemetery, Rte. 32 at Rte.6, Willimantic. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Windham Hospital Emergency Room Fund, 112 Mansfield Ave. Willimantic, CT 06226. Arrangements are through the Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic. Please visit
www.potterfh.com
for online memorial guestbook.