Celebrating a Centenarian: Henry Roy Tucker

Henry Roy Tucker, my sister-in-law's fourth cousin twice removed, died ten years ago today.  I found his obituary in the archives of the Tifton Gazette recently and I would like to share it with you. It seems appropriate to do so during the centenary anniversary of World War I.

"Born May 9, 1897, in Alapaha, Georgia, Tucker was the son of Warren and Margaret (Sizemore) Tucker, both deceased. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Addie (Creed) Tucker; a son, Ralph Warren Tucker; a sister, Lilly Tucker; and two brothers, Fred Tucker and Quincey Tucker.

Henry Roy Tucker with his wife Addie (Creed) Tucker and son, Ralph Warren Tucker. 
Photograph courtesy of Don Garrett and Ancestry.com

Henry Tucker was the oldest member of the First Baptist Church of Tifton. He was also a lifelong member of the American Legion Post 21 in Tifton and a member of the Tifton Lodge No. 47 as a Royal Arch Mason.

The oldest World War I veteran in Georgia, Mr. Tucker was inducted into the U.S. Army during World War I on September 4, 1918. He served in Luxembourg, England, Belgium, France and Germany. At the end of the war, he remained in Germany as a member of the Army of Occupation for an additional ten months. Because he served on French soil during the war, the French Consul in Atlanta, on behalf of the French government, awarded him the French Legion of Honor, the highest medal awarded by France, in a ceremony in Tifton on August 5, 1999.

French Legion of Honor

Upon his return from service, Mr. Tucker worked at the Central Service Station for 18 years and then was employed by the City of Tifton for 32 years as the water meter reader. It took the whole month to read all the meters and then he would have to start over again. Mr. Tucker often attributed his longevity to all the miles he walked while reading the meters. He always had a keen mind, which was still great and he had a friendly smile for everyone.

He is survived by two daughters, nine grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 11 great great grandchildren.

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On the centenary of World War I, I am writing occasional profiles about the lives of my soldier ancestors, who fought in the Great War. Previous posts include:

Honoring Those Who Died in the Service of Their Country
Wordless Wednesday: Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery
A Soldier Boy's Creed