Donnie Jerald Rucks

Donnie Jerald Rucks, age 79, passed away April 13, 2015 at his home in Lake Wales, Florida. He was born in Miami, Florida on December 26, 1935 and was a longtime resident of Frostproof, Florida, where he owned, and for many years operated, Rucks Citrus and Cattle Company (formerly known as Rucks Arbuckle Dairy Inc.). He was the son of Ernest and Bessie Rucks and was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Joy Rucks Shepherd.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Jean Stanton Rucks; four children, Phillip Stanton Rucks, Frostproof, Florida, Dana Jane Rucks Compton, Birmingham, Alabama, Debora Lee Rucks Vinton, Davie, Florida, and Donna Kay Rucks Hudson, Bluffton, South Carolina; their spouses, Letina Wright Rucks, Jerome Paul Compton, Jr., Frederick Louis Vinton, and James Michael Hudson; ten grandchildren, Levette Lee Rucks, Misti Rae Rucks, Phillip Stanton Rucks, Jr., Catherine Jane Compton, Jerome Paul Compton III, Anne Stanton Compton, Charlotte Lee Vinton, Chelsea Lyn Vinton, Caleb Rucks Hudson and Emmie Kay Hudson; and niece Donna Shepherd Perkins and nephew William (Billy) Shepherd.

Donnie graduated from Landon High School, Jacksonville, Florida, where he lettered in varsity basketball. He attended the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, prior to service in the United States Army as a cryptologist in the Signal Corps, primarily stationed in Heidelberg, Germany during the Cold War. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Donnie continued his studies at the University of Florida. In 1959, he and his new bride, Barbara Jean Stanton Rucks, commenced dairy farming operations, and subsequently citrus grove operations, in Frostproof, Florida. During his years on the dairy, Donnie developed a love for piloting and carved out his own private landing strip on the property for his Beechcraft Bonanza. From 1985 to 2005, he served as a loan officer for the United States Small Business Administration, based in Atlanta, Georgia, traveling to assist small business owners with disaster relief loans across the United States. He retired in 2005 and had transitioned citrus operations to his son, Phillip, and moved to a new home at Lake Ashton in Lake Wales, Florida. He and Barbara were enthusiastic travelers, journeying many times to Europe and across the globe when he was not fulfilling his long passion as a Bull Gator season ticketholder in Gainesville, Florida. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales since moving to Lake Wales in 2005.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales (16 North 3rd Street) on Saturday April 18, 2015 at 11 a.m. Pastor Chad Reynolds will officiate. Public visitation will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales on Saturday April 18 at 10 a.m. prior to the service. Private graveside services for the family will be held at Silver Hill Cemetery in Frostproof. Pallbearers are Phillip Rucks, Jr., J. Compton III, Caleb Hudson, Bill Perkins, Brian Perkins, Keith Rucks, and Tommy T. Rucks.

In lieu of flowers, for those wishing to make a memorial donation, the family requests donations to Word of Life Ministries for the Argentina ministry in Donnie Rucks’ name, attn: John Nelson, P.O. Box 600, Schroon Lake, NY 12870.