Coach Fred Tucker, 96, of Tifton passed away Thursday, October 17, 2019, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 20, 2019, at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Chip Grantham and the Rev. Benjy Varnell officiating. Coach Tucker will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 20, 2019. The family will receive friends Saturday, October 19, 2019, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. A reception will be held in the church social hall immediately following the service.
Coach Tucker’s grandsons, Mitchell Tucker, Sam Tucker, Aaron Tucker, Will Tucker, Cal Miller and Zachary Miller will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Foster Goff, Wynn Hancock, Tommy Cottle, Dick Kitchens, Tom Hilton, Leo Cooper, Roy McWilliams, Ryan Gravitt and Ricky Lawler.
Born June 29, 1923 in Tift County, Coach Tucker was the son of the late Eston Nick Tucker, Sr. and Recer Childs Tucker. He was also preceded death by his wife, Peggy Ann Miller Tucker; one brother, Eston Nick Tucker, Jr.; and two sisters, Christine Bridges and Betty Walker. Before retiring, he was a football coach at Tift County High School and taught school for 70 years.
Coach Tucker is survived by two sons and two daughters-in-law, Greg and Kelly Tucker of Tifton and Mark and Lori Tucker of Norcross; and six grandchildren, Carrie Tucker, Andie Tucker, Aaron Tucker, Will Tucker, Mitchell Tucker and Sam Tucker.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to Hospice of Tift Area, 618 Central Avenue North, Tifton, GA 31794; or the Peggy and Fred Tucker Scholarship at Georgia Military College, Attn: Sally Thrower, 201 East Greene Street, Milledgeville, GA 31061.