Donald Francis Tucker, 92, of Fairhaven, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, December 27, 2024. He was predeceased in 2022 by his loving wife of 69 years, Lois Howard Tucker.
He was born in Fairhaven on September 4, 1932, to Claude S. and Catherine (Sullivan) Tucker. Donald lived his entire life in Fairhaven where he and Lois raised their children surrounded by a close extended family and participated actively in the community he loved. He was a deeply religious person and a communicant of St. Mary’s Church.
For seven decades their home was filled with cousins, neighbors, and dear friends. In the 1990s Donald published two books about his father’s schooner, Coral, to preserve the history of schooner life in New England for future generations and to reflect his enduring love of the sea.
Soon after graduating Fairhaven High School with Lois in 1950, Donald enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine, and at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, with the 64th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, where he served as staff sergeant. Ever resourceful, Donald bought a Piper Cub to work as a bush pilot while off duty. Donald remained fiercely patriotic throughout his life.
After he and Lois married in 1953, Donald went to work at Davidson’s Meat Products of New Bedford. In 1963 he began a long career at New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company, later Com Electric, where he progressed from appliance salesman to payroll and benefits supervisor before retiring in 1993.
Donald was a 35-year member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary in Fairhaven, Little League coach, Junior Achievement advisor, Red Cross first responder and instructor, Fairhaven town meeting member, and a United Way loaned executive. He also found time to earn an associates degree in 1973.
Donald leaves behind the four loving children he raised with Lois: Ruth E. Comeau and her husband Patrick of Fairhaven; Francis J. Tucker and his wife Lu-Ann of Wareham; Howard S. Tucker and his wife Kami of Jamestown, North Carolina; and Thomas M. Tucker and his wife Caroline of Mattapoisett. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; a brother-in-law Charles M. Howard of Bowie, Maryland; a sister-in-law Joan Tucker of Fairhaven; and several nieces and nephews. Donald was the youngest brother of the late William Tucker, Helen Davidson, Kathleen “Dolly” Benac, Claude Tucker, Jr., and Francis J. Tucker, killed in action aboard the San Francisco during the Battle of Savo Bay in November, 1942.
Visitation will be Sunday, January 5, 2025, from 2:00-5:00pm at Fairhaven Funeral Home, 117 Main St., Fairhaven. His funeral will be 9am Monday, January 6, 2024 from the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at St. Mary’s Church, Fairhaven. Interment will be in St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church, Fairhaven. For memorial register or facility directions please visit, www.hathawayfunerals.com.
