Richard Carlson Tucker, 82, of Pittsfield, died Oct. 13 at a Pittsfield hospital. He was born Sept. 15, 1928 in Presque Isle, a son of William and Elsie (Carlson) Tucker. He attended Boston Latin School in Boston before enlisting in the Navy during WWII. He served with distinction as a cryptographer in North Africa. He was also an excellent baseball player, having represented the Navy in games all over the European theatre. After the war, Dick was the first non-family employee of Laverdiere’s Drug Store in Waterville. After moving his family to New Jersey, he was an over-the-road trucker and dispatcher and also owned his own trucking firm.
Dick was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ridgefield Park, N.J., and attended the First Baptist Church of Damariscotta, and the First Baptist Church of Pittsfield. He was also a member of the Bristol Grange. Dick loved the ocean and spent many happy hours at the Jersey Shore. An avid Red Sox fan, he also enjoyed cribbage and crossword puzzles. In his later years, one of his favorite past times was visiting his brother-in-law and sister-in-law at their dairy farm in Albion.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Thelma (Hunt) Tucker of Pittsfield; son, Richard D. and wife Heather Tucker of Hartland; daughters, Pamela and husband Stephen Schwartz of Fort Collins, Col., and Penny and husband Gary Smallman of Number Four, N.Y.; grandchildren, Rebecca, Kendra, Julia and Theodore Schwartz, Colleen McCreedy, Hannah Brown and Daniel Tucker; five step-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and beloved cat, Lucky Girl.
Memorial service 2 p.m., Sun., Oct. 17 at the First Baptist Church of Pittsfield, with the Rev. William Johnson officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to the Bangor Humane Society, 693B Mt. Hope Ave., Bangor, ME 04401.
Those who wish may leave written condolences at www.CrosbyNeal.com.
Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal, Newport.
