Patricia Hegeman Tucker, 81, on the afternoon of July 12, 2023, surrounded by her cherished children, gently passed away at the home of her daughter in Jane Lew. Born on January 24, 1942, in Montclair, N.J., the daughter of the late Andrew Stewart Hegeman and Constance Lyman Hegeman, she was raised in Glen Ridge, N.J., and lived most of her life in Morgantown.
Patricia was a proud alumna of Glen Ridge High School, graduating in 1960, and continued her education at West Virginia Wesleyan College, gaining her degree in 1964. At the college, she found not only a love for knowledge but also the love of her life, her husband, William J. Tucker (Bill).
Her dedication to education led her to a fulfilling career as an elementary school teacher. Her journey began in a quaint one-room school house on Baker’s Ridge in Monongalia County, subsequently continuing at Cheat Lake Elementary and Woodburn Elementary, which also became her retirement place. Pat expanded her proficiency by earning a Master’s degree and an additional 60 hours of studies in education.
Resolute and dynamic, she transitioned to a fresh career as a computer programmer and an instructor of computer operations. Her expertise spread across her career at Syncsort and Prudential in N.J., leading her to retire a second time before consolidating her experience and working in Pittsburgh, Wheeling, and Weirton.
Her last professional endeavor led her to Pierpont Community College and Fairmont State College, where she made significant contributions, including developing the INFO 1100 course into an online format that is respected and utilized even today. Pat also taught inmates computer skills at the Hazelton woman’s prison. She concluded her exceptional career in 2021, just short of celebrating her 80th birthday.
Pat harbored a deep love for music as a woman of many talents. She graced various choirs with her singing talent throughout her life and played handbells for numerous years since the ‘70s. Besides singing, she played violin, recorder, and saxophone during high school and college and occasionally played piano. Her passion for violin continued in the Advent Orchestra at Wesley UMC for an extended period.
Her resilience was notably demonstrated after victoriously surviving breast cancer in 1999.
In the wake of her death, she leaves behind her daughter, Connie Tucker (Shawn) Weaver of Jane Lew; sons, James (Ala)Tucker of Denver, N.C., and Andrew Tucker (partner, Pam Wozny) of Morgantown; son-in-law, Chris Stout of Xenia, Ohio; sister, Sally ( Chi) Chichester, of Phoenix, Ariz.; grandchildren, Teresa Weaver and Aaron Weaver of Brockport, N.Y., Rebekah Weaver, of Boston, Mass., Hannah Weaver of Orlando, Fla., Alex (Madison) Stout, of Clarksburg, Nicholas Stout, of Cincinnati, Ohio; great-grandchildren, Noah Stout and Oliver Stout, of Clarksburg; nephews, John (Michelle) Chichester, Scott Chichester; nieces, Kristen (Brian) Boyle, Carolyn (Russ) Tucker, Doris Tucker; great-nephews, Justin, Dillion, and Owen Chichester, Jim (Marta) Smith; great-nieces, Cassidy Boyle, Haley (Partner, Lucas Hilsbos); great great niece, Adeline Hilsbos; fur companions, Treble and Princess.
Patricia was predeceased by her parents, Andrew Stewart Hegeman and Constance Lyman Hegeman; husband and her companion of 42 years, William “Bill” Tucker; daughter, Sara Tucker Stout, Michael Hegeman, and Peter Hegeman; great-grandson, Sammy Stout; grand-niece, Riley Boyle; nephews, John (JT) Tucker and Phil Tucker.
In Patricia’s remembrance, please consider donating to Wesley UMC Music Ministries, 503 N High St. Morgantown, WV 26505.
Visitation will be at Dering-Henson Funeral Home, Morgantown, from 2-7:30 p.m. Monday, July 17, and at Wesley United Methodist Church from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, July 18. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. at the church, with Rev. Martha S. Ognibene officiating. Burial will follow in the Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens, Westover.
Caring services are being provided by Dering-Henson Funeral Home.
