WINTER HAVEN - Mr. James R. "Doc" Tucker, 82, passed away Tuesday, June 15, 2010 due to complications from COPD and cancer.

 Mr. Tucker was born in Moultrie, Georgia to Morgan Lee and Bertie Mae Tucker and moved to Winter Haven with his parents and siblings when he was seven years old.

  He served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division of the Armed Forces of the United States of America during the Korean War. When he returned to civilian life, Mr. Tucker resided in Macon, Georgia where he met and married his life-long partner of sixty years, Eugenia Hall Tucker.

  Mr. Tucker returned to Winter Haven in 1953 with his wife and twin daughters, Martha and Mary. Their family grew in 1960 with the birth of their son, Terrell R. "Terry" Tucker.

  In 1953, he began a lifetime career in construction with Tucker Builders, a firm owned and operated by his two older brothers, Chester and Wallace Tucker. Mr. Tucker, and his younger brother, Larry D. Tucker Sr. struck out on their own in 1960 with the birth of Tucker Construction and Engineering Inc., which specialized in residential homes. The company expanded and grew into commercial construction in 1963, and the two brothers expanded into other  businesses: Tucker Properties and Tucker Carpets, as well as a partnership, Tucker-Dantzler Warehousing with Richard Dantzler Sr.

 Mr. Tucker retired from Tucker Construction and Engineering, Inc. in January 1990, but continued to watch with pride as the company has continued to succeed over the years, trying to pay back into the community some of the good fortune that has come its way. His retirement included an active life of fishing, hunting, air boating, flying his 1972 Cessna Skyhawk  plane, and growing pineapples as long as his health allowed.

  Mr. Tucker is survived by his wife, Eugenia H. Tucker, and his three children: Martha (Larry) Walker of Auburndale, Mary Tucker of Tallahassee, and Terry (Lisa) Tucker of Lakeland, Florida. Seven grandchildren: Michael Walker of Auburndale, Cherilyn (Rev. Steve) Rice of Winston-Salem, N.C., Marilee (Matthew) Thomson of Baton Rouge, LA, and Caylee Walker of Auburndale, Harrison Tucker, Carson Tucker and Grayson Tucker of Lakeland. In addition, there are four great grandchildren: Michael Walker II, Marie Walker, Abigail "Abby" Rice, and Walker Rice. He has one surviving sibling, Betty Allen of Titusville, FL. Mr. Tucker has numerous nieces, nephews,  and many beloved friends who have been like family.

  Visitation will be at Grace Lutheran Church at 327 Avenue C, S.E. in Winter Haven on Thursday, June 17, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A worship service will be held in the church sanctuary on Friday, June 18, 2010 at 10:00 p.m.  Interment will follow at Rolling Hills Cemetery in Winter Haven.
 
 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Grace Lutheran Church 327 Avenue C, S.E. Winter Haven, FL 33880-3245 or to Good Shepherd Hospice 105 Arneson Avenue Auburndale, FL 33823-3229.