Peggy Louise Rucker was born in Lenoir, North Carolina; the middle child of four children of Margaret Louise Phillips and Lewis Brown Phillips.  The family moved to Akron, Ohio where she was educated in the Akron Public School system.  She graduated from Buchtel High School in 1957.  She met Albert Rucker, Sr. during an impromptu meeting at the Summit Lake Skating Ring in 1956 and they began dating.  They would continue to date until they eloped in Cumberland, Maryland on December 3, 1958, and celebrated 61 years of marriage.  From this union of marriage, they would have four children:  Pamela Cotton Rucker, Derek Rucker, Anthony Rucker and Albert Rucker, Jr.

Peggy had many jobs; working at the once prestigious Mayflower Hotel in Akron as one of the first African American women, a Mail Carrier for the United States Postal Service and a machinist at the Babcock & Wilcox Company for 19 years until retiring.  She work all while being a homemaker to 4 kids.  She enjoyed attending church and was a member of the Saint Phillips Episcopal church until finding a new home at the House of the Lord.  She loved traveling around the country and on one-tank trips with her husband and children.  She also would find the time to refinish cabinets, chairs, paint around the house, and perform gardening as well.  She was indeed multitalented.  Often times tired from work, she also was very instrumental in being a disciplinary figure and protector to her kids and grandkids along with her husband.  She was strong and strict, yet sweet, kind and loving, and found humor in a lot of life’s experiences as was witnessed in her laughter and beautiful smile.

Mrs. Rucker departed this life after a lengthy fight with Alzheimer’s on Monday, March 11, 2019.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Lewis Phillips; brother, Gregory Phillips; sister, Joan Johnson and one granddaughter, India Dixon.

She is survived by her husband, Albert Rucker, Sr.; one daughter, Pamela Cotton Rucker; three sons, Derek Rucker (Lydia Wright Rucker), Anthony Rucker and Albert Rucker, Jr. aka Rusty Love (Mandy Love); six grandchildren, Azer Abraham (Selam Abraham), Kaleb Cotton, Cordell Wright, Tatum Hawkins (Kirk Hawkins), Maximus Love, Titus Love;, eight great grandchildren; brother, Larry Phillips and a host of nieces, nephews and beloved family and friends.