Elton Mance Tucker

Elton Mance Tucker, beloved husband of Lu Linda Tucker, went to be with the Lord on November 9, 2025.

Born on December 28, 1934, Elton pursued a lifelong passion for science and discovery that ultimately led him to a distinguished career with NASA. He served as the manager of the spacesuit section for the Gemini flights and later as the manager of the life support systems for the Apollo missions. During this time, he designed equipment for NASA’s historical first flights including Gemini 2, Gemini 4, and the first man-on-the-moon mission, Apollo 11.

After moving to New England, he formed a company for the development of medical devices, including the Port-A-Cath drug delivery system used for the delivery of chemo-therapy drugs for patients.

However, when Elton was asked, he would always say most important to him was his faith in Christ. He exemplified this by service to Him through the local church body. Elton and Lu Linda have served for over 54 years at First Baptist Church in Sudbury, Massachusetts.

Elton was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and a model to all of how to love well. He was the cherished son of Elsie and his birth father, Mance Gilly, and his adoptive father, Noble Tucker. Elton is survived by his wife, his son Michael and his wife Cynthia, his son David and his wife Denise, his daughter Joy Fenton and her husband David, and his daughter Susan Sargent and her husband John, his eleven grandchildren, two grandsons-in-law and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his two younger brothers, Myrle and Allen Tucker, of Texas, and predeceased by his sister, Joyce Utley.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11:30AM on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at First Baptist Church of Sudbury, 162 Landham Rd.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be sent to Wear’s Valley Ranch in Sevierville, Tennessee, https://wvr.org/

or the Baptist Foundation of New England, https://www.bcne.net/bfne