PLUMMER - John A.

PLUMMER - John A., lieutenant colonel, U.S. Air Force retired, 84, Sidman, died Nov. 13, 
2004, at home. Born Sept. 17, 1920, in Wilmore, son of Frank E. and Arzella A. (Skelly) 
Plummer. Preceded in death by parents; brothers, Msgr. Francis E., Samuel J. and Daniel 
W.; and sister, Mary Plummer. Survived by wife, Helen Ferne (Schadle) Plummer, Sidman; 
children, Stanley C., married to former Cathleen Cunningham, Sterling, Va.; Patricia L., 
wife of William Buriak, Clinton, N.J.; Kathrine A., wife of Curtis C. Hostetler, Sidman; 
and Cynthia F., wife of G. Woodward Acker, Cresson; grandchildren, Jennifer Ferne Inghrim; 
Kelly Anne and Larisa Anne Buriak; Elizabeth Arzella, Ronald John and Eric Carson Hostetler; 
John Paul Plummer; and Victoria Ashley Acker; great-grandchildren, Wyatt William Inghrim 
and Lindsay Patricia Inghrim; and sister, Eleanor Plummer, Johnstown. Career USAF officer, 
B-17 combat pilot in Europe during World War II, where he received two Distiguished Flying 
Crosses and the Purple Heart; participated in the detonation of first hydrogen bomb in 1952
as a B-29 pilot. He retired from the Air Force in 1967 with 25 years of service. He 
graduated from the former Adams Township High School. He was formally educated at Lock 
Haven University and University of Southern California. After retiring from the military, 
he taught science in the Richland Township School District for 14 years. He was a member 
of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Wilmore; Lt. Col. "Buzz" Wagner Chapter of the Air 
Force Association; Distinguished Flying Cross Society; 99th Bomb Group Historic Society; 
Johnstown Flying Club; Johnstown Chapter of Experimental Aircraft Association; Cambria 
County Historic Society; Lock Haven University Alumni Association and university's ROTC 
Military Hall of Honor; St. Michael Post 551 American Legion; and The 1889 South Fork 
Fishing & Hunting Club Historical Preservation Society. Friends will be received from 
2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Charles O. Dimond Funeral Home Inc., South Fork. Funeral 
Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Father 
Charles F. Bodziak. Inurnment, St. Bartholomew Cemetery. Military graveside service by 
St. Michael Post 551 American Legion. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be 
made to American Diabetes Association.