William D. Rucker

William D. Rucker, Jr. a native of Nashville, TN entered into eternal rest on Sunday June 24, 2018. He was the eldest of 3 children of William D. Rucker, Sr. and Rosa E. McIntosh Rucker. Bill grew up in Buffalo, NY and following his high school graduation he was drafted by the U.S. Navy during WWII and received his boot training at Great Lakes, Illinois. This was followed by a brief training period at Camp Shoemaker in Pleasanton, CA. Later he was assigned to a post in New Guinea located in the Asiatic Pacific for several months. This assignment was followed by a stint in the Philippines where he remained until December 1945. His final duty was spent on the USS Muliphen. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in May 1946. Following military duty he enrolled at Dillard University in September 1946, where he received his bachelor’s degree in May 1950. Bill also attended several colleges following graduation from Dillard including Springfield, George Williams and others. Sylvania Television in Buffalo, NY hired Bill soon after where he remained until the summer of 1951. He married Marguerite H. Hartman June 9, 1951 in Chicago, IL. Soon after getting married he joined his wife in Cleveland, OH, where she was in graduate school. While there he was employed by the U.S. Navy. In the summer of 1952, Bill and Marguerite moved to New Orleans where she joined the faculty at Dillard University and he was hired by the YMCA as the Boy’s Work Director. The YMCA recommended Bill for a job as Executive Director at the YMCA in Jackson, MS. which he accepted in 1958 and remained until 1962. At this time he was promoted to Executive Director at the Dryades St. YMCA where he remained until 1969 and then he became head of the newly founded Community Service Center. Bill retired from there in 1991. After a brief retirement, he established an Empowerment Program for unwed mothers at the New Orleans Talent Search. Bill and Marguerite are the parents of Janet E. Rucker and Carol Rucker Murphy, MD (Joseph) and the grandfather of Elizabeth M. Murphy and William H. Murphy. He is survived by his sister Mamie Rucker Bell of Buffalo, NY (Bill) and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins. Hi affiliations past and present include: The New Orleans Jazz Fest and Foundation Board, the Criminal Justice Commission of the Louisiana Interchurch Council, WYES Board, the Children’s Bureau, VIA Board, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and many more. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a funeral service at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1222 N. Dorgenois St. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Interment: St. George Cemetery, Baton Rouge, LA. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to share online condolences.