Marjorie Joy “Penny” Rucker, 98, of Burlington died peacefully at her home on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, with family members at her bedside.
Born on Sept. 17, 1926, on a farm in Page County, she was the third daughter of Clarence “Bud” & Helen Penwell. She graduated as Valedictorian of her class from Nodaway Consolidated School in 1944.
Marjorie attended Aurora College where she was nicknamed “Penny” by her classmates. After her freshman year Penny and her college roommate traveled to San Diego, CA for the summer. Her roommate’s father found them jobs on North Island cleaning out warplanes. They took the ferry there and back every day. (Her small stature enabled her to fit in the tightest spaces on the planes so she was kept very busy!) After graduation from Aurora, where she earned a BA in English, she went to Kansas City and worked as a ticket agent for TWA airlines. Her dream job was to be a stewardess (the lingo of the day) but she didn’t measure up to the height requirements!
Also attending Aurora College was a young man from West Virginia by the name of Charles “Chuck” Rucker. Penny and Chuck were both in the college choir and Penny found herself seated next to Chuck on the tour bus, as it was the last seat available. Lucky for them! The rest, as they say, is history…
Penny and Chuck were married on June 7, 1950 in Villisca, and the couple enjoyed nearly 74 years of wedded bliss. After they married, they moved to West Virginia and Penny took the necessary education courses to earn her teaching credentials, doing her student teaching at Marshall University, where Chuck was completing his studies. All four of their children were born in West Virginia. In January of 1963, the family moved to Burlington, IA so Chuck could pursue a career in the insurance business. Penny continued to do substitute teaching and occasionally helped at the insurance office but her most important job was being the most fabulous mother and homemaker ever known.
Penny was a member of P.E.O for many years and was active in the First Presbyterian Church. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang in the church choir as well as Bel Canto Chorale, even performing some solos. Penny and Chuck also enjoyed traveling abroad and throughout the United States and were often accompanied by Penny’s sisters and their spouses. Penny and Chuck also spent many winters in their San Diego home to avoid the harsh Iowa winters. They made many friends within the San Diego church community.
Survivors include her son, Jeff (Cathy) Rucker of Burlington and their children Aaron (Shane) Rucker of Bluffton, SC, Adam Rucker of West Des Moines, Emily (Kieran) Raval of Vienna, VA and Jennifer (Nick) Linderer of Lawrence, KS; Kathryn Hays of San Diego, CA; Peggy Merati of Burlington, and her children, Brian Merati of Simsbury, CT and Nick Merati of Torrington, CT; Julia Totemeier of Burlington, and her children, Conrad (Alycia) Totemeier of New London, Karl Totemeier of New London and Detrich (Morgan) Totemeier of New London, and her sister Patricia Lopp of Hillsborough, NC. Also surviving are 14 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her adoring husband, Chuck, two sisters, Frances Gray and Carol Eichelberger, three nieces and a nephew, and two infant sons.
Per Penny’s wishes, cremation has been accorded and entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel. The family will receive friends from Noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18 at First Presbyterian Church in Burlington with a memorial service immediately following. Light refreshments will be served at the church following the service. Family will hold a private inurnment service at Aspen Grove Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Penny’s memory to First Presbyterian Church, Southeast Iowa Regional Home Health & Hospice or Advanced Home Health Care, the latter two which assisted the family with providing care so Mom could remain at home.