White Funeral Home
1315 Main Street
Jesup, Iowa 50648

Dunkerton – Reverend Allen Thomas Rucker, Jr., 54 years old of Dunkerton, IA, died February 12, 2014 at his home. He was born October 13, 1959, in Shelbyville, KY, the son of Allen Thomas Rucker and Betty Joyce (Richardson) Rucker. He graduated from Henry County High School, New Castle, KY, with the class of 1977. He then graduated from the Nashville Auto Diesel College and worked in the auto industry before answering the call to ministry. Rev. Rucker then attended Boyce Bible College and then Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Divinity degrees. He began his 16 year career in ministry at West Point Baptist Church, Matanzas, KY for three years, and then spent five years at Covington Baptist Church in Westport, KY, before spending his last seven years as pastor at First Baptist Church, Dunkerton, IA.

On April 24, 1981, he was united in marriage to Sharon Kay Baxter in Pleasureville, KY. They have been blessed with three children and seven grandchildren.

Rev. Rucker is survived by his wife, Kay of Dunkerton, IA; two daughters, Jesi (Jason) McCutchen of Louisville, KY, Melissa (Dan) Holtz of Eldridge, IA; one son, Derek (Markie) Rucker of Cincinnati, OH; seven grandchildren, Dylan, Kaelin, Jackson, Austin, Sara, Jovie and Tali; his mother, Betty Rucker of Pleasureville, KY; and two brothers, Steve (Ruthie) Rucker of Bayfield, CO, Jeff (Teresa) Rucker of Defoe, KY; His father, Allen Thomas Rucker, Sr., preceded him in death in April 2005.

Services will be held at 7:00 p.m. - Friday, February 14, 2014, at the First Baptist Church, Dunkerton with Rev. Mike Roberts officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 pm Friday at the church.

Memorials will be directed to the North American Mission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Services will also be held in Pleasureville, KY with burial at Defoe Cemetery, Defoe, KY.

White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA is in charge of the arrangements.