Bob Tucker was born on November 11, 1929, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma to Marvin and Eula Tucker. He died May 30, 2024, at 94 years old. He graduated from Broken Arrow High School in 1947 and attended The University of Tulsa, where he received his bachelor's degree in music, and was a member of Kappa Kappa Psi music fraternity. Bob had an active musical career playing the jazz trombone and as an opera singer. He met his wife Peggy at TU, and they were married May 30, 1952, at University Methodist Church on the TU campus. They were married for 70 years until Peggy's death in 2022. Bob was in the Air Force band during the Korean War entertaining the troops and was stationed at George Air Force Base in California. Bob and Peggy made their home in Broken Arrow and raised six children. Bob enjoyed a long career as a popular choir and band director for Catoosa Public Schools and touched so many lives. His students remember and think of him fondly to this day. He was also a part time barber at Tucker's Barber Shop in Broken Arrow, which was owned by his father Marvin Tucker.
Bob loved the outdoors, a good story (especially dog stories), and fishing. He enjoyed being with family and friends. He showed dogs for years and was active in numerous kennel clubs locally and nationally, including The Mid-Continent Kennel Club and The Scottish Terrier Club of America. He was highly respected in the dog show world and a mentor to others. In the words of his granddaughter Megan Whitehead, Bob was, "Leader of the family, protector, jazz and opera lover, bookworm, gardener extraordinaire, stubborn, holder of all the answers, dog expert, Wednesday night chef, infinitely wise, 94 years young, Grandpa."
Bob is survived by his children Stephanie Smith, Paul Tucker, Anne Tucker, Teresa Tucker, Jill Norman, Clay Norman. His grandchildren: Jerred Smith and his wife Madeline Smith, Eric Smith, Jacob Norman and his wife Ashley Norman, Ryan Norman, Matthew Norman, Megan Whitehead and her husband Jeff Whitehead, Stephanie Landreville and her husband Jason Landreville. His great grandchildren: Palmer Whitham, Aletheia and Isla Norman; Macey, Reese and Ellie Whitehead; Shannon Sallee and her husband Josh Sallee, Rachael, and Nicholas Landreville.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife Peggy Pace Tucker and son Philip Tucker and his wife Kathleen Tucker.
A funeral is scheduled for Friday, June7, 2024 at 10:00 am at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Broken Arrow.