By Town Crier Report

Mr. Tucker

George K. Tucker, 78, of Medford, Ore., formerly of Los Altos, passed away Nov. 5, surrounded by his family.

As a youth Mr. Tucker explored the limestone caves near his Virginia home, which led to a lifelong interest in the outdoors. He camped and hiked with his family throughout the United States. An avid reader, he enjoyed books on history, archeology, adventure tales and science fiction.

In 1945, Mr. Tucker enlisted in the U.S. Army, he served in Berlin at the end of World War II. On his return, he focused on education.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Ohio University in Athens, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree in business administration from UCLA.

Mr. Tucker’s business career began at Brown Instruments Division of Honeywell in Philadelphia where he co-authored a book on systems engineering that pioneered the use of computer models in applied systems efficiency.

He later joined Bell & Howell Company in Pasadena, eventually moving to corporate headquarters in Chicago in 1965.

Mr. Tucker joined SRI International in Menlo Park in 1968 as a market analyst during the early days of consumer electronics.

The Tuckers made their home in Los Altos, and became members of Foothills Congregational Church.

After his retirement in 1986, they traveled throughout North America pursuing mutual interests in history and genealogy. They moved to St. Michaels, Md., where they volunteered at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

In 1996 they moved to Medford.

Mr. Tucker is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jane; children, Claudia, David, Charles and Dennis; his sister Lillian Tucker of Arlington, Va.; and grandchildren, Avalon, Thomas, Erika, Brianna, Rachel and Andrea.

Friends and family have scheduled a celebration of Mr. Tucker’ life 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Rogue Valley Manor in Medford.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations for the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.