Pauline Ann Rucker

Polly was born on the 7th of April 1924, in Mitchell, South Dakota, to Daniel and Myrtle Grigg. She was a graduate of Ohio University, a Chi Omega, a 65 year member of the PEO sisterhood and exemplary educator. She began her teaching career as a high school teacher in Shelby, Ohio in 1951, and following a 12-year hiatus as wife and mother, resumed her teaching career in 1965 at her beloved St. Thomas More. There she taught until her accident on the 28th of November, touching the lives of thousands of 7th and 8th graders with her firmness, grace and love while bestowing knowledge of the Iliad, Beowulf, Shakespeare, sentence diagramming and other mysteries of the English language.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 60 years, James F Rucker; loving children, Rebecca (Bill) Edmondson, Deborah (Terry Hunter) Maloch, David (Diana) Rucker; beloved grandchildren Jennifer, Mark, Julie, James, Jason, Bryan, Karen, DeEtte, Keely, Devyn and Ian; great grandchildren, Connor, Elissa, William, Kylee, Brayden, Hailey, Freddie, Jessie, Angelique, and many favorite nieces, nephews and a host of dear friends. All of us...her family, friends, and students were blessed by her constant love, care and good humor. Her final words: As Walt Whitman said, “Let there be no moaning at the bar as I put out to sea” and she asked, “instead, everyone raise your glass and give thanks for the wonderful times we had together.”

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Polly from half-past six o’clock until nine o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 2nd of January, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 10330 Hillcroft Street in Houston, where an evening vigil service is also to be conducted.

A memorial mass is to be offered at a quarter ‘til four o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 3rd of January, also at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, where the Rev. William Oliver, Pastor, is to serve as the celebrant.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Polly’s memory may be directed to the Polly Rucker Scholarship Fund at St. Thomas More School, 5927 Wigton Dr., Houston, TX, 77096.