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- [S927] Obituary.
Dr. Donald Eugene Pletcher, 91, of Givens Estate, Asheville, N.C., died Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006.
Dr. Pletcher was born on June 6, 1915, in Goshen, Ind. to Harvey Pletcher and Nora Schwalm Pletcher. After graduating from Wakarusa High School and Manchester College in Indiana, he received a doctorate in chemistry from Ohio State University in 1941. He married Aletha BonDurant on Sept. 10, 1938. Dr. Pletcher had a 40 year career with The Dow Chemical Co. in Midland, Indianapolis, Ind. and overseas in the Netherlands and Italy. Following initial laboratory research on organo-silicon products, he was involved in a wide range of research and development prior to his move into executive management as director of New Ventures related to health care products and services.
Upon retiring from Dow in 1980, Dr. Pletcher and his wife, Aletha, moved to Laure Park, N.C., where he was active in the Kiwanis and other civic and church organizations. He was chairman of the Education Work Area Committee of the Hendersonville First United Methodist Church and was on the board and responsible for long range planning for the Interfaith Assistance Ministry in Hendersonville. He had served on the Laurel Park Planning Board for 10 years and was chairman for three years. Also, he served on an Oversight Committee that was instrumental in drafting a Comprehensive Land Use Plan for Henderson County. In December 1995, he and his wife moved to Givens Estates in Asheville, N.C. and became members of the Biltmore United Methodist Church, where he was actively involved.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Aletha BonDurant Pletcher; a daughter and her husband, Rebecca and Paul Bates formerly of Honolulu, Hawaii; a son and his wife, Stephen and Janet Pletcher of Prides Crossing, Mass.; a daughter and her husband, Kathleen and Jay Coogan of Cranston, R.I.; a grandson and his wife; William and Milena Dixon of Corte Madera, Calif.; a grandson, Brian Pletcher of Prides Crossing, Mass.; two great- grandchildren, Adam and Eliza Coogan of Cranston, R.I.; and two great-grandchildren, Will and Natalia Dixon of Corte Madera, Calif.. Two brothers preceded Dr. Pletcher in death.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006, 3 p.m. at the Norma F. Pulliam Chapel, Givens Estates United Methodist Retirement Community.
The family request in lieu of flowers that memorials may be made to the Prostrate Cancer Foundation.
The Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, N.C., is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent through the website at www.morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Published in Midland Daily News on Oct. 18, 2006
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1915 - 2006 (91 years)