Herbert Joseph Plummer, retired teacher, actor

Herbert Joseph "Joe" Plummer, 91, of Lincoln, died Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, at home. Joe was born in Washington, D.C., the son of the late Herbert C. and Fannye Jo (Kopecky) Plummer.

Joe was a retired teacher and actor, formerly an associate professor in the Mass Communications Dept. at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He received his doctorate in rhetoric and linguistics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He also taught writing in the Parallel Program of the University of Delaware and courses on Charles Dickens at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Lewes. He was also a mentor at Lulu Ross Elementary School in Milford and a lector at St. John's Catholic Church in Milford.

Joe had been a copy editor at the Bergen Record newspaper in Hackensack, N.J., and a reporter and assistant Sunday editor at the Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, N.Y. He served in the U.S. Army, first at Fort Jackson, S.C., and then as classical music director for the American Forces Network in Frankfurt/Main Germany.

Joe was known throughout Delaware and other parts of the country for his Charles Dickens impersonations and presentations of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." He and his son took the "Christmas Carol" show to the Blue Heron theatre off-Broadway in 2001.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death within two days by his sister, Judith Frances Plummer.

Joe is survived by his wife, Terry, at home; and eight children: Cecilia Galante, Catherine "Josie" Jesser, Lionel Plummer, Joseph Plummer, Therese Plummer, Margaret Mary Green, Dr. Samuel Plummer and Herbert Plummer; and 11 grandchildren.

Since Joe and his sister Judith died within two days of each other, the Memorial Service will be a joint one at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 20, at St. Nicholas/St. Mary's Catholic Church, 226 S. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Committal with military honors will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 26, at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro.

Instead of flowers, Joe has asked for prayers for the surviving members of his family, and for parishioners and staff at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Milford, or donations may be made to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 Dupont Blvd., Georgetown, DE 19947. 

Arrangements by Lofland Funeral Home, Milford. Letters of condolence may be shared with the family at loflandandmcknatt.com.