Hubert Taliaferro Plaster, Jr., 94, of Winchester, Virginia passed away Sunday, August 11, 2019, at Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury.
Mr. Plaster was born in 1925 in Washington, DC, son of the late Henrietta B. Plaster and Hubert T. Plaster, Sr. At 5 years old, due to the stock market crash leading to the Great Depression, Mr. Plaster and his mother moved to Leesburg, VA where they lived with his two aunts, Rebecca and Maria Harrison. Hubert’s father was forced to move and live with his sister and husband, Dr. and Mrs. Archibald P. Osborn, in Berryville, VA in order to work and provide for his young family.
Mr. Plaster attended grade school and high school in Leesburg, VA and attended Woodberry Forest School in Orange, VA from 1941 to 1943. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served during World War II achieving the rank of Sergeant. Mr. Plaster underwent basic training at Camp Fannin, TX and joined Company L, 302nd Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division at Camp McCain, Mississippi. Upon receiving additional combat training the Division was transferred to Camp Shanks, New York, where on August 6, 1944 the Division boarded the Queen Mary Elizabeth for a long voyage to Europe, not knowing if they would return.
The 94th Division joined General Patton’s Third Army where it went into the Battle of the Bulge, seeing action at St. Nazaire and Lorent on the west coast of France and continued into Germany. Mr. Plaster proudly served his country in the Battles of Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Because of the severe conditions, on January 26, 1945 Mr. Plaster was admitted to a hospital in Verdon, France with severe frozen feet and later transferred back to England to the 825 Convalescent Center for rehabilitation at Birmingham. With honor and grace Mr. Plaster returned to the United States on December 14, 1945 and was honorably discharged at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
In his younger years Mr. Plaster enjoyed playing golf with his late wife, Mary. He loved gardening and was a Boy Scout Leader, eventually working his way up to Counselor. Mr. Plaster had a long career as a Department Manager with Barber and Ross Company, retiring in 1970. He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, VA.
His wife, Mary Ann Plaster, preceded him in death in 2011.
Surviving are daughters, Rebecca Gheen (Ron), Sallie Vaaler, and Suzan Miller; son, Hubert T. Plaster, III (Mary Beth); grandchildren, Mary Ann Bennett, Becca McMillan (Ken), Will Gheen (Alisabeth), Sarah Vaaler, Mollie Hughes (Dalton), Niels Vaaler, Maggie Brunner (Will), Hannah Parker, and Liza Parker; granddaughter-in-law, Shelli Beeler (Marshall); great grandchildren, Cora Bennett, Liam Bennett, Lucy McMillan, Harper McMillan, Ryleigh Gheen, Charlotte Gheen, Addison Gheen, Ryan Gheen, and Penny Beeler.
Mr. Plaster was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and grandson, Kelly Gheen.
A Memorial Service will be at 2 pm on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Westminster Canterbury Chapel with Reverend Webster Gibson officiating. Interment will be private. A Celebration of Life reception will follow the service in the Commons Area at Westminster Canterbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Hubert’s memory to Westminster Canterbury Fellowship Fund, 300 Westminster-Canterbury Drive, Winchester, Virginia 22603.