Charles Tucker

Charles Brocchus Tucker, known as Charlie Tucker, was born March 27, 1937 in Kansas City, Missouri to Wilson E. Tucker Sr. and his wife, Mary Ann Brocchus Tucker. He was the third child following his older brother Wilson E. Tucker, Jr. and his sister Marcia Diane Tucker.

The family moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas where his maternal grandparents lived when he was 3 years old. There he attended Belle Grove and Duvall Grade Schools, Darby Jr High and Fort Smith High School. As a child he went to the Saturday movies every week at the Malco or Temple Theater. Admission price was a quarter. His father would give him the exact admission price of a quarter. Then he would ask his mother for money for snacks and she would give him a dollar.

Charlie joined the Navy in 1956 and was based in San Diego serving on the Shangri-La aircraft carrier as an electrician. He often said he served 3 years, ten months and 22 days. He was discharged early because of Christmas. He arrived home Christmas Eve 1959.

Back home, he worked for 555 Auto and Central Airlines before he moved to Tampa, Florida where he worked for National Airlines for 4 years. After returning to Fort Smith, he went to work for Truck Equipment Company, and National Cash Register (NCR.) In 1972 he went to work at Arkansas Natural Gas Company, in his words, ‘until something better came along’. Twenty-seven years later he retired in April 1999.

He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in July 1978. He served in various positions including ward clerk, Bishopric Counselor (5 times), Elders Quorum President, Scout Master, Ward missionary, stake executive secretary and High Councilman.

He was active in the Boy Scout Program for many years and earned the Silver Beaver award. He coached various Fort Smith Optimist youth sports teams and was in some productions of the Little Theater in Fort Smith and the Red Stocking revue.

He and Ginger were married December 16, 1988 in Atlanta Georgia. They lived at 923 So 68th Lane, Fort Smith for 15 years and then moved to Yukon, Oklahoma. They served 18 months as Managers of the Oklahoma City Bishops Storehouse.

He has been an avid Razorback sports fan (still is) He remembers vividly games since the 1960s. He wore his razorback pin in his lapel on Sundays rightside up if they won and upside down if they lost.

He is survived by his wife Ginger, of the home; two sons, Todd Tucker and his wife Amy, along with their three daughters, Rylie Overby, Emma and Halle Tucker, of Meridian, ID and Ryan J. Tucker and his wife Casie, along with their two daughters, Ayla and

Aislyn and one son, Atlas Tucker of Norfolk, NE; a sister, Marcia Diane Tucker Mason and husband William J. Mason, Sr. of Fort Smith; nephews, William J. Mason, Jr. and his wife Gwen, of Fort Smith, William E. Tucker, III and his wife Marsha of Pocola, J.D. Jones and wife Lacey of Fayetteville, AR, Lynn Jones and wife Jaime of Shawnee, OK, Chris Jones and wife Becca of Bixby, OK and Nick Lira and wife Christine of Harrah, OK; nieces, Linda Kelly of Van Buren, Pat Powell and husband Gary of Van Buren, Yvonne Barnes of Pocola, Gloria Jenkins of Van Buren, Valerie Stevens and husband Fred of Choctaw, OK, Amanda Hull of Oklahoma City, Tanya Morrison and husband Ben of Fayetteville, AR and Jaime Loik and husband Roman of Fayetteville, AR, along with numerous wonderful grandnieces and grandnephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Wilson Edward Tucker, Sr. and Mary Ann Brocchus Tucker and a brother, Wilson Edward Tucker, Jr.

Visitation will be from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Sunday, October 22, 2023 at Edwards Funeral Home, 201 North 12th Street, Fort Smith.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 am Monday, October 23, 2023 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 8712 Horan Drive, Fort Smith. Committal service will be at 1:00 pm, at the Fort Smith National Cemetery.