Herbert Tucker Webb Jr. was a man of deep faith, unwavering love, resilience, and quiet strength. When asked what he learned from his life he said, “keep your friends and family close, pray for them daily, and at every opportunity tell them how much you love them. Pray to God for guidance and be a forgiving person.”
Born on July 27, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, to Herbert Webb Sr. and Edna Webb, Herb grew up in a loving home with his parents and two younger sisters. He earned a business degree from the University of Missouri in 1953, married his junior high sweetheart, Barbara Copple, and then served three years in the United States Air Force as a pilot and supply officer helping to usher in the jet aircraft era. During this time they started their own family which grew to three sons and a daughter.
After his military service, Herb followed his father into the grocery industry, which he viewed as recession-proof. He began as a Kroger store manager but soon felt called to entrepreneurship. He became a co-owner in a grocery store design and equipment distribution business in Rockford, Illinois, and later founded Refrigeration Systems, Inc. in Madison, Wisconsin. He took great pride in helping establish some of the largest grocery stores in the country under the Woodman’s franchise and in playing a role in the rise of the convenience store era. When asked to reflect on his career, he said “I was fortunate to be successful in each phase of my career and feel that God directed my steps.”
Most evident in his life was his devotion to family. He shared a remarkable 64-year marriage with his beloved Barbara until her passing in 2017. He cherished his two sisters, Mary Lou and Phyllis, and remained close to them, and their families, throughout his life. He was a proud and loving father to his four children — Herbert Tucker “Tuck” Webb III (Beth), Scott, Cheri, and Rob (Terri) — and delighted in his thirteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He also maintained close relationships with his extended family. Family gatherings were the highlight of his life, and he looked forward to them with great anticipation. After Barbara’s passing, Herb found new companionship and love with Pat Wintercorn, who remained a devoted partner for the rest of his life.
He was convinced that he would die in his 60s, like his father and uncles. The fact that he had a heart attack at age 49 supported this view. But he modified his life and learned the secret to longevity. He maintained a life balance and believed that one should “work to live, not live to work.” He was dedicated to time with his family. He spent hours cultivating his gardens and yard. It was his meditation. He stayed active. He played competitive racquetball into his late 80s, replying to his doctor’s warning that the sport could kill him at his age with, “That would be awesome.” He also enjoyed golf, ping-pong battles at family gatherings, and being a pilot. Herb was an avid sailor who applied the lessons of sailing to his personal life. He adjusted his personal sails with grace and resilience to adapt to life’s shifting winds — a trait that contributed greatly to his longevity.
Herbert Tucker Webb Jr. died peacefully on July 10, 2026. He was preceded in death by his wife Barbara and many loved ones, and he is now surely enjoying a joyful reunion in heaven.
A celebration of life service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on July 27, 2026 — his birthday — at Park Pointe in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Burial will take place at a later date in the family plot at Memorial Park in Skokie, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, tribute donations may be made to Acts Retirement Life Communities Legacy Foundation in appreciation of the excellent care he received at Park Pointe.