Robert Campbell Rucker

On Saturday, January 15, 2022, Robert C. “Bob” Rucker, loving husband, father of three children passed away at the age of 93. Bob was born February 18, 1928 in Rocky Mount, NC to Dana and Lilla Rucker. After graduating from high school in Winston-Salem, NC, he joined the U.S. Navy and was later drafted into the U.S. Army where he served overseas in Germany. After his honorable discharge, his travels landed him in Cleveland in 1951, which he quickly adopted as his home town from which he never moved.
After meeting her on a blind date, he married the love of his life, Marilyn Kunzman, on July 31, 1953. Shortly thereafter, Bob and Marilyn embarked upon the wonderful journey of parenthood, raising Robert (known affectionately to the family as “Young Bob”), Clay and Elizabeth (whom he always referred to as his “princess”). Of almost equal importance in Bob’s eyes, he and Marilyn also embarked upon an ongoing gin rummy game, which lasted over 60 years and which provided hours of enjoyment and good-natured ribbing between them.
After working a number of miscellaneous jobs to support his family, he eventually founded his own successful trucking business in downtown Cleveland, which is still in operation, from which he retired in 1993 (though he would continue to drive to the office on almost a daily basis until 2016 just to spend time with his friends). In addition to his family, Bob’s passions included travelling around the world with his wife, playing cards for hours on end, playing racquetball at the Downtown Cleveland YMCA, working on the landscaping in the front yard, spending as much time as possible on the golf course (whether in northeast Ohio, Hilton Head Island, or anywhere in between), spending time with his grandchildren, and finally his decades-long dedication to the Browns, Cavs and the Indians. In addition, and though generally reserved about his Christian beliefs, his family members knew how important that his faith was to him, and he considered his membership at the Little Church in the Vale as one of his many blessings.
Bob was known for many things, not the least of which was his infectious personality, his easygoing nature, his quick smile, his mischievous sense of humor, and his ability to strike up a meaningful conversation with literally every single person with whom he came into contact. To say that “he never met a stranger” falls short of describing his heartfelt approach toward life that no one is a stranger; rather, they are simply a friend with whom he just hadn’t spoken yet.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marilyn; children, Robert (Janis), Clay (Jennifer) and Elizabeth (Jim) Hutcherson; grandchildren, Megan (Josh) Miley, Elizabeth (Franklin) Sacha, Jake Hutcherson, Will Rucker, and Luke, Campbell and Jack Hutcherson; great grandchildren, Parker and Lennon Miley.
Bob was preceded in death by his brothers Dana and Harrison.
Services will be held at 10:00 am January 22, 2022 at the Little Church in the Vale, 610 Chagrin River Road, Gates Mills. Services will be officiated by retired pastor, Robert Sandham.
Family will receive friends 12-3 PM Friday at Davis-Babcock Funeral Home, 4154 Clark Ave., Willoughby Ohio.
Private family burial will be held at Waite Hill Village Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, family suggests contributions to be made to Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice, 38879 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094 or donations can be made online via www.ohioliving.org/foundation/donate.