Ollie James Tucker

He was born July 20, 1919, in Iredell County and was the son of the late Henry Espy and Martha Rachel Plyler Tucker. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion Post 401 in Troutman. He was a retired mechanic with Statesville Flour Mill and Carolina Motor Company. Following retirement, he worked many years delivering flowers for Johnson’s Greenhouse and was a long-time member of Diamond Hill Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Zula Hoover and Eula Tucker; and two brothers, Floyd and Ralph Tucker.

Ollie is survived by his wife of 69 years, Louise Collins Tucker, whom he married on October 1, 1941; two daughters, Virgie Brown (Michael) of Winthrop Harbor, IL, and Jean Elledge of Statesville; and three grandchildren, Denise B. Ewing (Tony) of Pleasant Prairie, WI, Dr. Michael D. Brown, Jr. (Kathy) of Bonham, TX, and Jaclyn E. Slagle (Wesley) of Atlanta; and six great-grandsons, Anthony and Brandon Ewing of Pleasant Prairie, WI, Parker and Camden Brown of Bonham, TX, and Tucker and Henry Slagle of Atlanta. He cherished the love of many nieces and nephews as well, and other survivors he considered as his children include, Jane Rash Neill, Judy Rash Miller, and Jack L. Elledge.

Funeral services celebrating Ollie’s life will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday at Diamond Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry Holleman, Dr. Rev. Michael Brown, and the Rev. Roy Pierce officiating. Burial will follow at Iredell Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Friday at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home and at other times will be at the residence.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.

For those who prefer, memorial contributions may be made to Diamond Hill Baptist Church, 2320 E. Broad Street, Statesville, NC 28625; or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.