Share a memory
Leonard Plumley Obituary
Leonard Paul “Pete” Plumley passed away peacefully on June 26. He was 83.
He is survived by children Thad Plumley (Claudia) of Dublin, Tonya Beals of Delaware, and Ryan Plumley of Santa Fe, New Mexico; grandson Tyler Beals of Delaware; and sister Judy Brock (Johnny) of Hurricane, West Virginia, and sister-in-law Babe Plumley (Mickey) of Hurricane, West Virgina
He was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie, parents Lee and Marie Plumley, sister Barbara Kessinger (Junior), and brother Mickey Plumley.
What a life Pete had! He was born in Hamlin, West Virginia, and attended Duval High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. Shortly after high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force. It was decision that changed his life.
After basic training in San Antonio, Texas, and graduating second in his class at jet mechanics school in Amarillo, Texas, he was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1961 in Fairborn. He switched to the U.S. Air National Guard in 1965 and was transferred to Rickenbacker Air National Guard base in Columbus in 1972.
Pete retired with more than 38 years of military service. He worked for the 160th Air Refueling Group and 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker. His roles saw him start out as a mechanic and then become an inspector, quality control superintendent, and aircraft maintenance superintendent.
He earned the rank of chief master sergeant, the highest rank for enlisted personnel and one achieved by just one percent of those who serve. He held the rank for 18 years. He served during the Vietnam Conflict, Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Desert Storm.
The job took Pete around the country and the world. He visited 48 states and nearly 20 countries.
While in Fairborn, he met Bonnie at a classic drive-in hamburger restaurant. They were married at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and spent 58 years together. Their roles as parents to Thad, Tonya, and Ryan are the ones of which they are proudest. They instilled values and gave all of them a love for exploration.
Pete was a long-time member of Karl Road Baptist Church in Columbus, and more recently, Grace Baptist Church in Delaware. He was a long-time president of his condominium community which he always strived to make a better place.
He will be interred beside Bonnie at Kingwood Memorial Park in Lewis Center. A service of remembrance will take place on July 7 at Snyder Rodman Funeral Center in Delaware. Visitation hours are from 12-2 p.m. with the service immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fisher House Foundation, which supports families of veterans getting care at military medical centers, or Pelotonia, a grassroots effort in Central Ohio raising money for innovative cancer research https://my.pelotonia.org/profile/PM0033
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Leonard (Pete), please visit our floral store.
Leonard Paul “Pete” Plumley passed away peacefully on June 26. He was 83.
He is survived by children Thad Plumley (Claudia) of Dublin, Tonya Beals of Delaware, and Ryan Plumley of Santa Fe, New Mexico; grandson Tyler Beals of Delaware; and sister Judy Brock (Johnny) of Hurricane, West Virginia, and sister-in-law Babe Plumley (Mickey) of Hurricane, West Virgina
He was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie, parents Lee and Marie Plumley, sister Barbara Kessinger (Junior), and brother Mickey Plumley.
What a life Pete had! He was born in Hamlin, West Virginia, and attended Duval High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. Shortly after high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force. It was decision that changed his life.
After basic training in San Antonio, Texas, and graduating second in his class at jet mechanics school in Amarillo, Texas, he was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1961 in Fairborn. He switched to the U.S. Air National Guard in 1965 and was transferred to Rickenbacker Air National Guard base in Columbus in 1972.
Pete retired with more than 38 years of military service. He worked for the 160th Air Refueling Group and 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker. His roles saw him start out as a mechanic and then become an inspector, quality control superintendent, and aircraft maintenance superintendent.
He earned the rank of chief master sergeant, the highest rank for enlisted personnel and one achieved by just one percent of those who serve. He held the rank for 18 years. He served during the Vietnam Conflict, Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Desert Storm.
The job took Pete around the country and the world. He visited 48 states and nearly 20 countries.
While in Fairborn, he met Bonnie at a classic drive-in hamburger restaurant. They were married at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and spent 58 years together. Their roles as parents to Thad, Tonya, and Ryan are the ones of which they are proudest. They instilled values and gave all of them a love for exploration.
Pete was a long-time member of Karl Road Baptist Church in Columbus, and more recently, Grace Baptist Church in Delaware. He was a long-time president of his condominium community which he always strived to make a better place.
He will be interred beside Bonnie at Kingwood Memorial Park in Lewis Center. A service of remembrance will take place on July 7 at Snyder Rodman Funeral Center in Delaware. Visitation hours are from 12-2 p.m. with the service immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fisher House Foundation, which supports families of veterans getting care at military medical centers, or Pelotonia, a grassroots effort in Central Ohio raising money for innovative cancer research https://my.pelotonia.org/profile/PM0033
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Leonard (Pete), please visit our floral store.