Kermit R. Rucker Jr., 68, of Prosser, passed away on Friday, October 27, 2017 in Prosser.
He was born in Prosser on July 29, 1949 to Kermit Sr. and Ruth Karleen (Collins) Rucker. He grew up in Benton City with wonderful memories and people who became lifelong friends. He graduated in 1968 from Ki-Be High School where he was a football, basketball and track star, still holding the school record for the 440 relay at 50.3. He married his high school sweetheart and they had two beautiful children, a son, Kermit III and daughter, Cindy. Unfortunately, that marriage ended.
Kermit loved life. His interests included Jeep dune racing, go kart racing, flying model airplanes, softball, hunting, bow hunting, snowmobiling, motorbike riding, really anything outdoors. He had a successful career in Wenatchee and retired as Installation Supervisor in 2002 from the phone company Verizon.
Then he met and married Arlene and they enjoyed their retirement years together traveling and reviving an old Lincoln log cabin on the Skykomish River. But what he loved most was the time he spent with his son and grandsons. They had many wonderful years at the river throwing potatoes off the deck into the river, playing, and eating hotdogs and s’mores around the campfire. They also enjoyed sledding and playing in the snow at the Cashmere house. Their laughter was pure joy, Kermit lived for those times.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Kermit Rucker Sr. and Karleen Rucker and his sister, Pam Whitmore. He leaves behind his loving wife, Arlene; sisters, Rosalee (Glenis) Tarr, Harriet (Jerome) Heintz and his favorite and closest sister, Deb Rucker; brothers-in-law, David (Tana) Hall and Darryl Hall; his son, Kermit Rucker III (handsome grandsons, Jared and Josh); daughter, Cindy (Eric) Hickley (beautiful granddaughters, Emma, Olivia and Sophia); stepdaughter, Jessica (Isaac) McLellan (cutie grandsons, Kainoa and Kiko); and lots of nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews who loved their Uncle Butchie. He will be deeply missed.
Graveside services will be held at the Evergreen Cemetery in Benton City at 2:00 pm Friday, November 3rd. A potluck will follow at 4:00 pm at Calvary Baptist Church, 1400 Paterson Road in Prosser.
Special thanks to our church family who helped us through these last hard years. In lieu of flowers, please remit memorial donations to Calvary Baptist Church Kermit Rucker Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 648, Prosser, WA 99350. You may leave a message for the family at www.Prosserfuneralhome.com