Ralph Wesley Rucker

Ralph Wesley Rucker, 86, of Canton,GA, passed away peacefully in his home on June 2, 2026. Ralph was born on September 26,1939 to Harry L. Rucker, Jr. and Sibyl Wood Rucker. In addition to his parents, Ralph was preceded in death by his precious wife, Sarah DeVore Rucker, and his brother, Howard Marcus Rucker. Growing up in the blissful community of Crabapple, Ralph was an avid outdoorsman and baseball player. Ralph graduated from Milton High School in 1957 where he was an accomplished pitcher for the Milton Eagles. After high school, Ralph attended Mercer University where he also played baseball. In the small community of Crabapple, the family attended Crabapple Baptist Church, the center of the community's small social life. Ralph developed a strong faith and belief in the Bible and it all began in that small country church.Through those lessons learned at Crabapple Baptist Church, Ralph developed a commitment to serving others. Ralph has been faithful to assist in several places of need in his surrounding area, in the U.S.,and abroad. To tornado victims in the northwest corner of Georgia, he was there with heavy equipment to clear trees and destroyed homes. He assisted multiple charities with needs in the Alpharetta and Roswell area. He was among the first to deliver water and supplies to Katrina victims in the early 2000s. Another impressive mission was when he followed his adventurous granddaughter, Abi, and his daughter, Deanne, to Uganda. Through their work, two orphanages were built. One of Ralph and his wife, Sarah’s, favorite charities was the Integrated Community Ministries of Sterns, KY founded by Barbara & Hilton Duncan. This organization worked to improve the graduation rate in one of the poorest communities of Kentucky from 52% in the year 2000 to 94% in the year 2020. In the year 2000, Ralph, Sarah and longtime friends began work with this mission. The goal of Ralph’s mission was to organize donations of food, personal items, school supplies, and Christmas gifts for all the children in need in this small community but at the same time they were providing supplies, they were supplementing their spiritual growth. Ralph loved serving others in need and was still planning a trip to the Kentucky ministries within the next few days. Upon meeting Ralph Rucker, you would recognize he was a firm believer in hard work and expected the same from others. He believed you should work hard until you couldn’t work any more. You would also see that he believed the core expression of faith to serve one another. Lastly, Ralph Rucker loved the Atlanta Braves win or lose. He was the team’s most devoted fan. For the last few years, Ralph and Sarah have made their church home, First Baptist Church of Alpharetta. Upon Sarah’s passing April 11, 2025, Ralph continued to feel loved and welcomed by their Christian friends in this congregation. Ralph is survived by his children, Scot Rucker (Cindy), Elise Rucker, Tracy Rucker Spivey (Terry), and Dee Rucker Provencial (Mike); brother, Hugh Rucker; sister, Jean Rucker Armstrong (Mike); as well as nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation: June 9, 2026, 5:00-8:00 p.m. and June 10, 2026, 12:00-4:00 p.m. Northside Chapel, 1250 Crabapple Road, Roswell, GA Celebration of Life: June 10, 2026 4:00 p.m. Northside Chapel, 1250 Crabapple Road, Roswell, GA In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Integrated Community Ministries (Kentucky Outreach Program), an outreach program that Sarah and Ralph loved, helping those in Kentucky. /www.ky-icm.org

Ralph Wesley Rucker

September 26, 1939 - June 2, 2026