Joe Tucker was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, friend, neighbor, and firefighter. He loved his family very much and spent time with them as much as possible. Joe and his wife, Delaine, were together for over 40 years. They had a son, Brandon, and his wife, Cassie, and a daughter, April, and her husband, Julian. They also had a very special granddaughter, Addie. She was born only four months before Joe’s death, but he loved her so very much!

Joe loved the fire service from a young age. He started his volunteer fire service as a junior firefighter with Arrington Volunteer Fire Department in Dudley, North Carolina. Once Joe married Delaine, they moved to the Mar Mac Volunteer Fire Department district in Goldsboro, North Carolina, where Joe became a member. After some time, Joe moved his membership over to the Thoroughfare Volunteer Fire Department, also in Goldsboro, and he was at this department at the time of his death. Joe spent a total of 43 years as a volunteer firefighter. At the time of his death, he was the department’s safety officer. He enjoyed helping, training, and encouraging the younger firefighters when they joined the fire department. He helped and supported the fire department fundraisers, such as their turkey shoots, car show, raffle tickets, food booth at the county fair, golf tournaments, cookbook sales, and picture sales.

Joe had many jobs over his lifetime, with a wealth of knowledge in many areas. He started out barning tobacco and helping neighbors with their crops. He worked at Kemp Furniture Company on the furniture line. He worked warehouse jobs at Smith Hardware Company and FleetPride, Inc., where he worked at the time of his death. He also spent time filling in with jobs at auto and tire businesses and farming in the area. Joe enjoyed working with his hands and doing yardwork.

Joe’s main hobbies were hunting and fishing. He loved the quiet and stillness of the outdoors. He also enjoyed participating in his community by helping his children with their interests and other organizations. He helped with April’s project as fire princess for our county, props and projects for adults and children’s activities at church plays, musicals, dramas, and Bible School throughout the years. Joe went through the Boy Scouts program with his son, Brandon, all the way to Eagle Scout. Joe also enjoyed being a “Do-Dad” with April going through the Girl Scout Program. Joe was a “background” person; he did not want to be in the spotlight, but he was always there to help as needed in any way he could.

He was a loyal and dependable person.