Jeanne M. Tucker

Jeanne H. Tucker (nee McCoy), 84, of Arlington, VA, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2021, with her loving husband of 53 years, Lt. Colonel William Dinwiddie “Bill” Tucker by her side. Jeanne, daughter of the late Edward J. McCoy and Mary Eileen Hastings McCoy, was born in Elyria, OH on March 6, 1937. She graduated from Elyria Catholic High School, where she was Homecoming and Prom Queen. She went on to earn a degree in Education from Bowling Green State University where she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority, the ROTC Military Ball and Homecoming Queen. After graduation, she eventually taught at Ramey Air Force base in Puerto Rico where she met Bill and made life-long friends. While at Ramey, she also earned a Master of Education degree at Inter American University. She later earned a second Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia. Jeanne and Bill married on August 31, 1968, in Elyria, OH. The couple eventually settled in Arlington, VA, where they lived in Bill’s childhood home. As a highly respected guidance counselor at George C. Marshall High School, Fairfax County Public Schools, Falls Church, VA for 27 years, Jeanne influenced the lives of her students long after graduation. She was instrumental in counseling her students to attend college where they would excel. She went above and beyond for her students, many times advocating for them in person at college admission offices. Due to her efforts on their behalf, Jeanne maintained personal relationships with many of her students long after she retired. In fact, it was not uncommon for former students to show up at her doorstep to fill her in on their life achievements and successes. Jeanne won numerous awards for her many accomplishments during her career, including ‘Outstanding Faculty Member’ from the National Honor Society, Optimus Club and the PTA. In retirement, Jeanne served as an Air Force Arlington Lady, attending funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery to ensure that no Airman was buried alone. She was extremely proud of her role as an Air Force Arlington Lady. Jeanne lived her life with a passion for family, friends and her students, and she was beloved. She was like a second mother to her nieces and nephews and cared for her mother, Eileen, for many years. As her identical twin sister, Joyce McCoy Josephic would say, “She was Queen of it all.” She will be greatly missed. Jeanne is survived by her husband, Bill, twin sister Joyce (David) and sister-in-law, Mary Frances Tucker Fannon. She is also survived by nieces Kelley McCoy, Beth Josephic Casey (Bob), Gini Lee Tucker Sledjeski (Jeff), Beth Fannon Swindler (Jimmy), Heather Fannon Young (Daron) and Jill Tucker Hampel (Tom) as well as nephews Edward McCoy (Sue), Matt Josephic (Frankie) and Wayne Tucker (Leslie). She is survived by many grand nieces, nephews and cousins but enjoyed a particularly close relationship with Allison and Edward McCoy as well as Katie and Molly Josephic. Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Edward W. McCoy, sister-in-law, Diane McCoy, brothers-in-law Chester W. “Bill” Fannon, Jr., Joseph T. Tucker and Hubert Q. Tucker, and nephews Chester W. “Chet” Fannon, III (survived by his wife Kate) and Joseph Travis Tucker, Jr. Jeanne will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, at a date to be scheduled later. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Saint Agnes Catholic Church, 1910 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or https://act.alz.org.