Rucker, Larry Edward 

Larry Edward Rucker died Sunday, May 7, 2006, with his family by his side. A rosary 
will be recited at 6 p.m. Tuesday evening, May 9, 2006. Visitation will follow the 
rosary at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian burial for Mr. Rucker will be held at noon 
Wednesday, May 10, 2006, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 2108 Ridgewood Drive, with 
the Rev. Gavin Vaverek officiating. Larry was born December 9, 1942, in Enid, 
Oklahoma, to Bernadine and Robert Rucker. He was preceded in death by his parents; 
and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Steve and Marjorie Verhalen. Larry was raised 
in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended Holy Family High School in Tulsa. Larry attended 
Tulsa University for two years and graduated from Oklahoma State University in 
Stillwater in 1967 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Larry also served on 
active duty in the United States Air Force. He went to work for Texas Eastman in 
1968, and initially served as an apprentice training supervisor for several months. 
Larry was named supervisor of central shops in 1975 and became a senior mechanical 
engineer in 1976. He was named superintendent of field forces in 1979, and was named 
as division maintenance engineer in north chemical area maintenance in 1982. Larry 
retired from Texas Eastman on January 1, 1998, after 30 years of service. He is 
survived by his wife of 43 years, Ann Rucker of Longview; his daughter and son-in-law, 
Stephanye and Chuck Keeble of Dallas, and their three children, Chase, Abby, and Austin; 
his son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Kristin Rucker of Dallas, and their two children, 
Kate and Caroline; his brother, John Rucker and wife, Linda, of Tulsa; his brother, 
Jim Rucker and wife, Julie, of Dallas; his brother , Doug Rucker and wife, Lisa, of 
Tulsa; his brother in-law, Stephen Verhalen and his wife, Linda, of The Woodlands; his 
brother-in-law, John Verhalen of Ore City; and his sister-in-law, Lynda Verhalen of 
Galveston. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 
1125 Judson Road, Suite 105, Longview, Texas 75601, www.americanheart.org; American Lung 
Association, 8150 Brookriver Drive, Suite 102, Dallas, Texas 75247, www.lungusa.org; or 
to the charity of your choice.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 5/9/2006