William H. Plumb

Bill was born on March 15, 1950 in Watertown to Howard and Elsie (Kast) Plumb. Bill was the son of a military father and so after many moves early in their lives, Bill graduated high school in Pleasantville, where he was captain of his football team. Within weeks of graduating high school, the military called and once again they moved, this time to Colorado.

Bill attended and received his Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. It was here he met the love of his life, Sarah (Sally) Plumb. After graduating and moving back to the East Coast, Bill was quickly overcome with heartache from being away from Sally and so asked for her hand in marriage and flew out to Colorado so he could drive them both back to New York.

On Sept. 9, 1972, Bill and Sally were married in North Bangor. They then moved to Albion, where Bill worked on the Kast farm, his mother’s family farm. He also attended SUNY Brockport, earning a Masters degree in urban planning. Bill and Sally had two daughters in Albion before moving to Saranac Lake in 1980, where their son was born and where they would eventually raise their family.

Bill worked as the CEO of North County Home Services for 20 plus years. It was a job he truly was meant for. His passion for his clients and employees could be seen whenever one looked. From employee recognitions in the local papers and bonuses, to hand delivering food to all of his clients during the ice storm of ’93, Bill truly treated everyone like family.

Later in life, Bill started Adirondack White Pine Cabins where he worked side by side with his son for almost 20 years. As a skilled, self-trained jack of all trades, Bill was always improving their homes throughout the years. But it wasn’t until 2002 when he was finally able to combine his love of family and building into creating small cabins that could be used to house an elderly parent in your backyard, as he did for his mother-in-law for the last 7 years of her life.

I know this is getting long, but this wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Bill’s love and involvement with his local Rotary Club. Among many of the civic activities he participated in, being a part of and eventually responsible for the rotary dancers at their annual variety show during Winter carnival was one of his favorites. It wasn’t rare for him to ask his family for any input on the upcoming show, once the theme was picked, even if it was only September and still 6 months away. As a past president, Bill was all-in when it came to anything Rotary. He thought of members both past and present as part of his family and wouldn’t hesitate to offer help or advice, sometimes even if the latter wasn’t necessarily asked for.

Bill loved his family very much and could be counted on for all birthdays, sporting events, graduations, weddings and many more. Traditions meant everything to him, and not for the sake of the event, but for the connections and people that would be there. To support the ones he loved and connect with those in the greater community if possible. He was the type of husband/father that would come home with a week’s worth of “get better” groceries at the first mention of not feeling well.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, Howard and his mother, Elsie. He is survived by his wife Sally, of 50 years, his children Anna (David) Fleury, Caroline Plumb, Joe (Laura) Plumb, his sisters Sue Holland and Barb (Tom) Balcom his brothers-in-law Stewart McKenzie and Scott (Jana) McKenzie, 29 first cousins, nephews and nieces as well as his three grandchildren, Ethan, Hailey and Jayne whom he loved more than anything. Bill is also survived by his four-legged companions Buddy and Matilda.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A funeral service with a reception to follow will be the next day, Thursday, Sept. 29,, starting at 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Saranac Lake. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rotary Club of Saranac Lake.