William “Bill” Ohlis Plunkett Jr., of Savannah, GA, reached the shores of Heaven on May 12, 2022. Bill was born on September 30, 1942 to the late Roberta Finn Plunkett and William Ohlis Plunkett Sr. His parents were married for 9 years prior to his birth and were overjoyed at the arrival of their first child and only son. Roberta fondly referred to him as her lucky penny. The nickname stuck and to this day family and close friends still refer to him as “Penny”

Bill graduated from Savannah High in 1960. Upon graduating high school, he continued his education at Clemson University. On the morning of August 14, 1965, he graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering. That same night he married the love of his life Donnaleen “Donna” Nettles with whom he raised three wonderful children. 

Upon graduating he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. Lieutenant William O. Plunkett Jr. was granted a direct commission into the Chemical Corps in 1966. After a year serving at the headquarters of the Chemical Corps at Fort McClellan, Alabama, he was stationed as an assistant special weapons chemical officer with the 7th Infantry Division at Camp Casey, South Korea. He was in charge of nuclear warheads which were guarded in a maximum-security area (These were removed from South Korea 8 years later in 1976). Donna joined Bill a few months later in 1967 as a special services librarian first at camp Redcloud and then at Camp Casey, South Korea.

Prior to and after his military service he served his country with the Department of Defense. He was employed by the Savannah District Corp of Engineers for 36 years. He was a Mechanical Engineer serving as the Chief of Energy Analysis and the Assistant Chief of Engineering. He retired in 2001. During his tenure he served on many Corps regional and national engineering management committees and received numerous commendations for his accomplishments. After retiring from the Corp of Engineers Bill started Plunkett Engineering & Construction. He provided the people of Savannah with engineering, accounting, research, management, and other related services and products. Most notably at Savannah Country Day School.

Bill was a man with a passion for life and all it had to offer. He was a well-rounded traveler, with his journeys spanning across the United States and into several foreign countries. He could often be found with a camera in hand capturing every last moment. He enjoyed working with his hands rather that be on old cars, fixing broken odds and ends, helping his children with science projects, or building them and family members swing sets and tree houses. The only time you could find him sitting still was while watching Indiana Jones, Star Wars, or a Clemson football game.

Bill loved learning. He was always inquisitive about things he didn’t know. If he didn’t know the answer to a question give him an hour and a book and by the time he was done you would think he was an expert on the subject at hand. His love of learning turned into a love of education and sharing his knowledge. His family looked forward to table side chats with him, where they would hear historical facts, stories of his military service, and his years at Clemson.

It was once said that his mother was a “character in a family of characters”, that too stood true when it came to Bill. You had no choice but to enjoy his quick wit and often times dry humor. Bill spent many days enjoying the company of family and friends at the family’s riverside retreat at pine harbor. He loved going casting and fishing, boating, and in his younger days Marsh Hen hunting. On cooler days he would take his children and great niece traipsing through the woods looking for pottery pieces and hidden treasure. The day’s activities always included a fresh watermelon and more often than not fireworks. Bill once said “out of all the places I have been, sitting on the dock in the rain will always be my favorite”. When days spent at the river came to a close you could usually find Bill sitting on the dock with his feet and an elbow propped up on the railing, head resting on his hand, watching the sun set over the river with a soft smile on his face. That is how his family chooses to remember him.

Though his family will miss him beyond words, they know that Bill’s life was a life well spent and believe that death is but his next great adventure.

In lieu of flowers his family asks that donations be made to The Honor Flight Network at   https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/Njk0MzI=  or The Historic Savannah Foundation at https://www.myhsf.org/donate/  

He is proceeded in death by his son, Kevin Plunkett; Parents Roberta Finn Plunkett and William Ohlis Plunkett SR; Mother and Father in-law, Ruby and Carl Nettles of Clemson, SC; brother in-law William Nettles; Sister in-laws’; Mary Patricia Nettles, Jean McGonigal Nettles, and Gail Nettles; and close childhood friend, Bob Upson

He is survived by his wife Donaleen Nettles Plunkett. His children Sean William Plunkett and Carrie Erin Plunkett. Sister, Robin Thomson (Ric); Niece, Carrie Griffin Burkhart (Brian) and their daughter, great niece, Reannon Burkhart Pridgen (Scott); Step Niece, Becky Simmons (Danny). Brother-in-law, James Nettles of Seneca, SC, and his children; Niece, Catherine Cutter (Lester) and Nephew Richard Nettles (Suzanne); with many other nieces and nephews, cousins, family members, friends, and colleagues.

The family would like to thank the following people for the love, kindness and respect shown to Bill: The staff at Candler Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and The Employees of Hospice Savannah, Inc.

Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at Greenwich Cemetery, with a graveside service to follow at 11:00 a.m. at Greenwich.