Valesta Lucille (Allen) Rucker was born in Parsons, Kansas on March 8, 1942 to the union of Oliver B. Allen, Sr. and Zenobia R. Bradley Allen. Her parents, late husband, John Rucker, and youngest sister, Jacquelyne Hassen, preceded her in death.

Also preceding her in death were: paternal grandparents, Lucille Flynn and Frank Allen; maternal grandparents, John H. Booker, Maggie C. (Hutton) Booker, and Jackson M. Bradley; uncles and aunts, Orville and Gwendolyn Julian, and Ollie and Doretha Rhone; cousins, William Julian and Tamra Beatty; brother-in-law, Nathaniel Dudley; and niece Erica Thomas.

On June 28, 1964, Valesta was united in marriage to the late John E. Rucker and to this union, two daughters were born, Vanassa and Rachel.

Valesta was baptized at an early age at Pleasant Green Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO, and later joined Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, where she had been a devoted member over the past 30 years serving as Youth Sunday School secretary and Senior Usher Board member.

Valesta graduated from East High School in 1959. After graduating, she started her career as a talented seamstress and garment maker for a Kansas City garment and uniform company. She also tailored and altered beautiful dresses and clothing for family, friends and co-workers. One year, she made award-winning Looney Tunes character costumes (Tweety Bird, Bugs Bunny and Sylvester) for her daughters and niece, Telisa Hassen, for a school contest. She also sewed for church plays.

Valesta then began working for the Federal Government, first with the Internal Revenue Service and then with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), where she retired with a combined 42 years of federal service on March 31, 2011.

Valesta departed this life the afternoon of January 10, 2019 at Centerpoint Medical Center. She leaves to cherish her memory, daughters, Vanassa Barner (Anthony) and Rachel Brantley (Adrian), grandchildren, DeMarcus Rucker, Anthony Barner Jr., Adrian Brantley Jr., Jeremiah Brantley, Kennady Brantley and Joshua Brantley, brother, Oliver Allen Jr., sisters, Linda Dudley and Clara Thomas (Clarence), all of the city, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Services for Mrs. Rucker will be held 11:00 AM. Friday, January 18, 2019, at Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ.  Burial Forest Hill Cemetery.  Friends may call from 9:00 A.M. until service time Friday at the church.

Thoughtful care and services provided by E. S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel, Inc.