John Frederick Plude, Sr.

John Frederick Plude, Sr., age 88, passed away, peacefully, on Saturday morning, May 6, 2023, in Baltimore, Maryland. John was born in Bronx, New York, traveled and lived in many places during his service with the US Navy. He settled in Harford County, Maryland in 1971.

At age 17, John entered active duty Naval Service. John served honorably for 20 years in the US Navy and retired as a Senior Chief Torpedoman’s Mate (TMCS). He served on the USS Coral Sea (CV-43); USS Lexington (CV-16); Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama; Naval Ordnance Test Unit, Patrick AFB, Florida; USS Observation Island (EAG-154); Naval Guided Missiles School, Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, Virginia; and the USS Holland (AS-32).

After basic training in Bainbridge, Maryland, John began his Naval career aboard the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) as a machinist mate, responsible for the safe launching of aircraft from the flight deck. In 1956 he was selected as one of 15 Navy personnel to participate in the inaugural Polaris Missile Program in Huntsville, Alabama. He was instrumental in the successful launch of the first Polaris missile in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

John, a newly minted Chief, was on duty aboard the USS Observation Island (EAG-154) during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of 1962, a confrontation that successfully repelled Soviet aggression into the western hemisphere. TMCS Plude was awarded not one, but two Presidential Unit Citations during his career.

John worked for Amtrak for 15 years until his retirement in 1991. He was active in the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) and USS Lexington (CV-16) reunion organizations. He was Vice Commander of the Slate Ridge Post 182 American Legion, Whiteford, Md., and Vice Commander of DAV Chapter 30, Belair, Md. John thoroughly enjoyed being a DAV Volunteer Driver for veterans at Perry Point VA Medical Center for over 20 years. This dedication was recognized in a letter signed by the President of the United States.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Marie Plude, his brothers, Marshall Plude,  Harold Plude, and his sister, Agnes Halligan. He is survived by his bride of 68 years, Eva Louise Plude (nee Brewster); daughters, Maria Norcross and Linda Hardin; sons, John F. Plude, Jr., and Charles Plude; granddaughter, Rebekah Powell; grandsons, Ryan Baity, Lucas Hardin, Jared Plude, Logan Plude; great-grandsons, Tyberius Powell, Mackoy Powell, Elias Baity and Ryan Joseph Baity; and numerous nieces and nephews.   

A celebration of John’s life will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Mt. Zion Church, (in the Sanctuary building, not the tent) 1634 Churchville Road, Bel Air, Maryland. Internment at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors will be at a future date.

The family would like to express our thanks for the wonderful help and care received from each person we encountered at the University of Maryland Medical Center, especially the doctors and nurses of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and the Vascular Surgery Progressive Care Unit. With grateful hearts, the family thanks each person for their uplifting prayers and comforting words.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­:

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Attn: Development Department, 875 N Randolph St, Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203 or online https://support.nmcrs.org/a/homepage or

Children of Zion Village, P.O. Box 413, Churchville, MD 21028 or online at https://www.childrenofzionvillage.org/  Thank you.

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