Robert Walter Plassman

Bob was born May 28, 1943, in Elmhurst, Illinois, to Walter Prill Plassman and Dorothy Kross Plassman.

He was raised in Centralia, Illinois, and attended Centralia High School and graduated in 1961. Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force and served from February 4, 1962 until February 5, 1966. He studied the Bulgarian language and culture at Syracuse University, then was assigned to TUSLOG in Karamursel, Turkey. Bob was then stationed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where he was an escort for fallen Airman to their home.

Bob worked briefly for the FBI in Washington, DC following his discharge, then attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, earning a BS in Radio / Television / Communications in the fall of 1969. In 1975, he enrolled as a graduate student at Wake Forest University, where he met his wife, Celeste York, whom he married in 1976. Mr. Plassman worked with a variety of hardware corporations, and later opened his own hardware / feed store in Advance, North Carolina. After selling his business, he went to work as an Auditor for the State of North Carolina, Employment Security Commission for 20 years, retiring and moving to Southport. Bob enjoyed classic cars. He had a 1948 Ford coupe named "Betty Blue" that he enjoyed immensely while participating with the Cape Fear Chapter of the AACA and the Cape Fear Cruisers.

In his retirement, Bob volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Friends of the Library, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Lower Cape Fear Hospice, and served on the Board of Adjustments for the City of Southport. Mr. Plassman was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where he spent countless hours volunteering.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife, Celeste York Plassman; two brothers, Mike Plassman of Centralia, Illinois and Jim Plassman and wife Chris of Whitewater, Missouri; and two sisters, Gail Drillinger and husband David of Godfrey, Illinois and Mary Nicholson and husband JT of Brownsburg, Indiana.

A simple outdoor committal service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 14, 2026 in the columbarium area at Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport.

Memorial contributions in Bob's memory may be made to the SECU Hospice House of Brunswick, 955 Mercy Lane, Bolivia, North Carolina, 28422.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.