Aletha Elnora Pletcher

Aletha Elnora (BonDurant) Pletcher, wife of the late Dr. Donald E. Pletcher with whom she shared 68 years of marriage, died Saturday morning Nov. 10, 2007 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.

Mrs. Pletcher was born in Bremen, Indiana to Delbert and Clara (Ringgenberg) BonDurant. After graduating from Bremen High School, she attended Manchester College in Indiana. She married Donald Pletcher on Sept. 10, 1938. Beginning in high school, Mrs. Pletcher was active in vocal groups, singing in church choirs in Bremen, in Columbus, Ohio and Midland. In Midland, she was a charter member of the Dow Women's Chorus. She was actively involved in various church committees in Midland, Carmel, IN and Hendersonville, NC.

Mrs. Pletcher was president of her garden club in Midland and she and her husband were active for many years with their award-winning gardens of flowers. She was an avid craftswoman, creating decorative pieces using glass, beads and paper. Mrs. Pletcher was pleased to help others in her crafts clubs and as a volunteer Yellow Lady at King's Daughters Home in Midland. She had an active life-long interest in a variety of antiques and collectibles.

In 1980 Mrs. Pletcher and her husband moved from Carmel, IN to Laurel Park, NC where they served as foster grandparents in the Hendersonville Schools. After 15 years they moved to Givens Estates in Asbeville, NC and became active members of Biltmore United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Pletcher was preceded in death by 3 brothers and 2 sisters.

Surviving her are 3 children, Rebecca Bates and her husband Paul of Honolulu; Stephen D. Pletcher and his wife Janet of Prides Crossing, MA; Kathleen D. Pletcher and her husband Jay Coogan of Cranston, RI; 4 grandchildren, William R. Dixon and his wife Milena of Corte Madera, CA; Brian Pletcher of Boston, MA; Adam and Eliza Coogan of Cranston, RI; and 2 great- grandchildren, Will and Natalia Dixon of Corte Madera, CA.

On Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007 at 11 a.m., a Memorial Service will be held at the Annisquam Village Church, 820 Washington St, Gloucester, MA 01930, www.avchruch.net. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the memory of Mrs. Pletcher to: The Kaplan Family Hospice House, Hospice of the North Shore, 10 Elm Street, Danvers, MA 01923, www.hns.org. Arrangements by the Campbell- Lee, Moody, Russell Funeral Home, 9 Dane St., Beverly, MA, 01915. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.