Walter Plume

Walter Plume

Age 84 of Wilmington, passed away Friday, January 16, 2015 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee.

Born May 13, 1930 in Amboy, Illinois, Walter John was a son of the late Lloyd E. and Flossie (Ford) Plume. He was a graduate of Amboy High School with the Class of 1948 and went on to honorably serve in the United States Marine Corp from 1951 to 1961 as a commissioned officer. Walter continued his education at Northern Illinois Teacher's College and taught at Wilmington High School, prior to joining the faculty at Joliet West High School, from where he retired in 1985. Throughout his career, Mr. Plume taught chemistry, physics and earth sciences. On June 28, 1958, Walter married M. Joyce Wade in the First United Methodist Church in Wilmington, and she preceded him on January 19, 2010. Walter was active with Boy Scouts of American since the age of 13. Over the years he belonged to Rainbow Council; was a Webelos Leader and Treasurer for Pack #455; served as Assistant Scout Master and Committee Leader at large for Troop #458 in Wilmington, and was most recently influential in reactivating BSA Troop 2 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Today, Troop 2 provides an opportunity for every boy with special needs to experience the adventures and opportunities of Scouting. Walter's other memberships included Wilmington Lodge #208 A.F. & A.M., the Wilmington Lions Club and Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA). Walter served on the Wilmington School Board for numerous years, with his personal mission of providing the best education to the students of District 209-U, all while being fiscally responsible. His hobbies included stamp collecting, woodworking and traveling. Walter especially enjoyed being overseas, vacationing to the National Parks and visiting natural formations. His passions were small bore shooting; restoring old cars, particularly 1953 and 1968 Chevy's; and genealogy. Walter was proud to have traced his family heritage back to the Puritans and the Mayflower. He will be remembered as a true frugal individual, who was a 'Jack of all trades'.

Survivors include his two sons: Lloyd (Kwi Suk) Plume of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Leslie (Laura) Plume of Madison, Alabama; six grandchildren: Kenneth, Ryan, Leah and Savannah Plume, and Young Kim-Plume and Hannah Shin, and one great grandchild: Sun Bin Shin.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; wife Joyce and two brothers: Kenneth Lyle Plume and Frank Elias Plume.

Visitation and video tribute will be held at The First United Methodist Church, 401 East Kahler Road in Wilmington on Friday January 23, 2015 between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow Saturday morning January 24th in the church at 11:00 a.m. Reverend Thomas Kingery will officiating.

Burial with full military honors will be in Oakwood Cemetery Sunset Addition, where Walter will be laid to rest with his late wife Joyce.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Walter's memory to The Wilmington School District Foundation for Excellence, 209 Wildcat Drive, Wilmington, Illinois 60481 or to Boy Scout Troop 2, 220 40th Street NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52302.

Friends may sign the online guest book by logging onto: www.BaskervilleFuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815-476-2181)