Barbara Jean Stanton Rucks, age 81, passed away February 7, 2018 at her home in Lake Wales, Florida after a long illness. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida and was a longtime resident of Frostproof, Florida, where her late husband, Donnie J. Rucks, owned, and for many years operated, Rucks Citrus & Cattle Company (formerly known as Rucks Arbuckle Dairy Inc.).

She was the daughter of Gary Alvin Stanton and Ethel Emmie Walton Stanton of Frostproof and was also preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her four children, Phillip Stanton Rucks, Frostproof, Florida, Dana Jane Rucks Compton, Birmingham, Alabama, Debora Lee Rucks Vinton, Davie, Florida, and Donna Kay Rucks Hudson, Bluffton, South Carolina; their spouses, Letina Wright Rucks, Jerome Paul Compton, Jr., Frederick Louis Vinton, and James Michael Hudson; ten grandchildren, Levette Lee Rucks, Misti Rae Rucks Merrill, Phillip Stanton Rucks, Jr., Catherine Jane Compton Pulsifer, Jerome Paul Compton III, Anne Stanton Compton, Charlotte Lee Vinton, Chelsea Lyn Vinton, Caleb Rucks Hudson and Emmie Kay Hudson.

Barbara graduated from Landon High School, Jacksonville, Florida, where she met her future husband of 56 years, Donnie. She attended Carson-Newman University and graduated from Stetson University.

In 1959, she and Donnie commenced dairy farming operations, and subsequently citrus grove operations, in Frostproof, Florida. She was a teacher for many years at Frostproof Elementary School. She was active in the Woman’s Club of Frostproof, the Eastern Star, the Retired Teacher’s Association and the Red Hat Society group. She and Donnie retired in 2005 and at that time had transitioned citrus operations to their son, Phillip, and moved to a new home at Lake Ashton in Lake Wales, Florida. Barbara and Donnie were avid travelers, journeying many times to Europe and otherwise across the globe when she was not visiting with her children and grandchildren or enjoying her summer home of almost 50 years in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lake Wales.

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Lake Wales on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 11 a.m. Dr. Scott Markley will officiate and Marion Nelson Funeral Home will direct. Visitation will be held immediately before the memorial service, beginning at 10 a.m. at the church. The family will attend interment at Silver Hill Cemetery, Frostproof, Florida.

For those wishing to make a memorial donation, the family requests donations to First Baptist Church of Lake Wales, Lake Wales, Florida, 338 E. Central Ave., Lake Wales, FL 33853, or the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.