Barbara Plugge

Our family lost a slice of sunshine on Monday September 28, 2020 when our mom passed away peacefully with her son by her side in Frederick,  MD. The quaint southern town of Charleston, South Carolina rang in the New Year with the birth of Barbara Ann White in 1935.  The oldest child of two to Mildred E. White and L. Ben White. She cared deeply for her younger brother, Richard White.

Barbara's wanderlust to experience the world began at age 12 when she set off for Cuba by train and boat to visit her cousins on their family ranch.  Family has always been a vital part of her character.  The ranch provided her with the unique experience of a far off land, riding horses bareback, eating oranges straight off the tree, and all the obligations of a young homesteader. Brother and sister both went off to college in Pennsylvania.  Although Barbara began her higher education by leaving High School early and joining  her cousin, Derry Anderson at the University in Columbia.  The two women grew up, blossomed and shared precious time together throughout their lives.

James Randall Plugge confessed to meeting the most exotic woman at Carnegie Tech University and duly married Barbara after graduation in 1958.   The journey began with a deployment to Ford Island in Hawaii.  Barbara could be seen Hula dancing with naval wives and Hilo Hattie herself to greet the arriving Naval ships. She enjoyed all the island had to offer, including active volcanoes, natural water slides and black sand beaches.

Their first child, Anna Piepsen, was born at the island paradise in November of 1960. The small family grew as they made new homes in many states, including Bethesda, Maryland where Donald Gavin was born and Jacksonville, Florida where Caroline Paige was born.  Barbara made a house a home in several other states, among them, Dallas Texas, San Rafael, California, Issaquah Washington and Avon Lake Ohio. The three children enjoyed embracing weekend excursions, uncommon fruits and vegetables, and a full immersion into the arts.   Dad with his classical music and operas, Mom with her talent in all things artistic, including silk screening and sculpting. They all shared a love of photography that has spread to the newest generation.

Barbara always danced to her own beat -- a unique mixture of coquettish charm, stubborn fortitude and absolute devotion and loyalty to family.  Her joie de vivre mixed with pensive melancholy flourished in her mastery of art. She delved into painting, silk screening, drawing, sculpture, sewing and even macrame and basket weaving. Barbara's journey to Cuba helped spark her adventurous nature.  She traveled to Japan, India, Zimbabwe, France, Mexico and Canada.  Yet she was equally interested in seeing all the sights of the United States.

Between adventures, Barbara lived in Myrtle Beach. She grounded herself on daily walks with the sand between her toes and a shell in her palm. She traveled the roads of the US with her trusty sidekick, the little green Honda. Going to sights that interested her, visiting family, spread far and wide.  Before cell phones, her kids were never really certain of her exact location. Armed with only a tent and camera, she found the roads less traveled, making friends as she roamed.   Having seen a good deal of the world, Barbara- now Bryne to her grandchildren, settled down with each of her three children in turn. She took this rare opportunity to connect with her family on the deepest level, taking individual care to make special bond with each of her grandchildren and reconnecting with her children as adults.

First she lived with her Daughter, Caroline, in Kerrville, Texas where they explored unknown restaurants, and geo-cashed for treasures.

Next, she went to live with Pi and her two beautiful daughters, Chloe and Simone Soleil in Boston, Massachusetts. Here, she enjoyed the spectacular skyline view from her window every morning and often took walks with her grandchildren.

Barbara then moved to be with her son, Donald, his wife, Christine, and their four children: Danielle, Ben, Leigha, and Erin, in Frederick, Maryland. She enjoyed picking her granddaughters up from school to get ice cream, window shopping on market street, and visiting with a cup of black coffee.

She was a creative spirit, and like her art, bold, colorful and original. She left behind many beautiful pieces to remember her by, one of which is now tattooed on the shoulder of her oldest granddaughter, Danielle Plugge. She was the type of mother who drove through a Cleveland blizzard to take her kids to a Japanese restaurant (there weren't that many around in the 1970's) and fancied the name Thor for a baby. She is the type of grandmother who would let her grandchildren ride their bikes in a hurricane, but who squealed squeamishly when they pretended to pull their head off. She was the type of woman who bathed in bay leaves and travelled to India on an exploration of self discovery.

She will be remembered by those she raised in the creative, inquisitive nature she passed on to them. In Caroline's and Don's photography, and in Pi's creative writing.

She was beloved by all who met her, from the people in her building with whom she played canasta and stitched, to her family in-law.  She loved and supported the people around her and she was loved and supported by the community that she built. Her family is forever thankful for the care that she received from her friend and caregiver, Deborah Summer and the staff at Sunrise Living.

A gathering of friends and family will be on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike Frederick, Maryland 21702 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.  A Celebration of her life will begin at 5:00 p.m.  Rev. Tim May will officiate. Interment will be private.

Expressions of sympathy may be offered at StaufferFuneralHome.com.