Albert Rucker Sr. was born March 19th, 1938, in Birmingham, Alabama to the late, Rev. Marshall L. Rucker and Clifford (Jones) Rucker.  He was the last-born child and last remaining survivor out of 13 children. In 1947 the family moved to Akron, Ohio. Albert was educated in the Akron Public School system until he left to care for his mother who was ill.  He met his future wife Peggy (Phillips) Rucker at the Summit Lake Skating Rink in 1956 and they began dating. They eloped in Cumberland, Maryland on December 3, 1958. Albert and Peggy celebrated 61 years of marriage and remained married until Peggy’s death in 2019. From this union of marriage, they would have four children: Pamela Cotton-Rucker, Derek Rucker, Anthony Rucker, and Albert Rucker, Jr.

As a teenager, Albert landed his first job at the Kramer’s clothing store in downtown Akron during its heyday. This position helped to sharpen his eye for fashion and led him to become a true connoisseur of clothing.  He would say that he never brought home much of a paycheck due to using his tab at Kramer’s to invest in clothing. He really loved fashion. After getting married he had many jobs to support his family.  He worked as a sanitation worker for the City of Akron, the Chrysler Corporation, as well as the Babcock & Wilcox Corporation as a Nuclear Machinist for 30 years until his retirement in 1987. He also prided himself on having a side-hustle at the racetrack and shooting pool. He and his wife, Peggy, also sold plates of food out of the back of their station-wagon.
Albert poured a lot of his energy into raising his children. He would load up the station wagon and travel to a lot of places that were not the norm for a black man during the 60s and 70s. He prided himself on ensuring that his children would see the world without fear and be without racial insecurity. These destinations included Montreal Canada, Key West, Florida, Washington DC (to take a tour of the White House), Niagara Falls Canada, and regular trips to Geneva-On-The-Lake and Presque Isle nearly every summer vacation. He would often extend an invitation to a cousin or neighborhood kid and take them along as if they were his child as well. He was an outstanding cook and taught his children the importance of eating healthy. He often joked about having arrived at work one time still having his apron on forgetting to take it off. He was Mr. Mom when his wife was at work. He was a strong and strict disciplinarian who mentored many on how to navigate in many areas of life and really stressed punctuality and being meticulous about your work.

Aside from what he put into his wife, children, and others, he loved music, having a great appreciation for jazz greats Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and crooners such a Frank Sinatra, Arthur Prysock, and Nat King Cole. He was a very good dancer as well. Always stealing the show at any event where he would hand-dance with his wife Peggy as they danced like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. He loved sports as well. He had a memory and affinity for math and numbers that was mind boggling. He could remember things vividly from decades prior down to the most intricate detail.
He read the dictionary like it was the newspaper. Later in life his amazing memory served him well in his love for the lottery as it eventually became his hobby until taking his last breath. One of his last requests was for his number paper and to play 769 which was his favorite number.

Mr. Rucker departed this life after a long battle with 4^th stage COPD stating that he was “ready to go” shortly before he transitioned on December 30, 2021.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marshall and Clifford Rucker; sisters, Alberta Scales, Ethel Lester, Johnnie Mae, Ruby, and Sopora Dokes; brothers, Floyd Rucker, Clifford Rucker, and Marshall Jr.; granddaughter, India Dixon.

He is survived by one daughter, Pamela Cotton-Rucker; four sons, Dorian Davis (Regina Patterson-Davis), Derek Rucker (Lydia Wright-Rucker), Anthony Rucker and Albert Rucker, Jr. aka Rusty Love (Mandy Love); six grandchildren, Azer Abraham (Selam Manalebih), Kaleb Cotton, Cordell Wright, Tatum Hawkins (Kirk Hawkins), Maximus Love, and Titus Love; nine great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and beloved family and friends.