ACC (AC) Samuel Jay Tucker, Jr., US Navy Retired

ACC (AC) Samuel J. Tucker, Jr., US Navy Retired, age 87, went to be with the Lord, Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

Sam was born September 5, 1937, in Buncombe County to the late Samuel J. Tucker, Sr. and Helen Sheppard Tucker. He was a 1955 graduate of Emma High School. Sam enlisted into the Navy in 1955. While serving in the Navy he lived many places within the United States and at sea; but always considered Buncombe County his home. He flew as a crewman on an Airborne Reconnaissance aircraft, in AEW Squadrons VW-11 and VW-13 as well as serving as a crewman on USS Saratoga (CV-60) with deployments to the Mediterranean and Vietnam. He served for a total of 22 years and also retired from Rockwell International.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John & Lizzie Tipton Tucker; maternal grandparents, Charles Thad and Mattie Dayton Sheppard; great great grandson, Jaylen True Hutchins-Williams and son-in-law, Chris Lance.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joyce Jarvis Tucker; daughter, Tanja Tucker Lance and partner Doug Trusilo; son, Randall J. Tucker, LCDR, US Navy Retired and wife Cynthia; grandchildren, Kimberly Marie Hutchins and husband Jerry, William Christopher Tucker, Samantha Elizabeth Tucker-Tourbin and husband Todd and great grandchildren, Dakota Lynn Hutchins, Austin Michael Jay Hutchins, Kaitlyn Marie Hutchins, Aiden Christopher Hutchins, Savannah Joyce-Mae Tucker-Tourbin, and Charlotte Rose Tucker Tourbin; and great great grandson, Easton Christopher Hutchins.

Sam’s funeral service will be held at 2:30 pm, Friday, March 28, 2025, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home with Rev. Bob Belford and Rev. Larry Sprinkle officiating. Burial will follow with military honors in West Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Thursday, March 27, 2025, at West Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Eliada Home for Children, 2 Compton Drive, Asheville, NC 28804 or Norton Children’s Hospital Cancer Institute, 231 Chestnut Street, Louisville, KY 40202.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mars Hill Manor for their love and care.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving the Tucker family. Condolences may be offered to the family under his obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.