Harold Dean Plumley

Harold Dean Plumley, who was born on June 17, 1948, in Beckley, West Virginia, and who passed away on June 26, 2026, in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, after a long illness, was a man whose life was marked by faith, steadfast labor, and a warm and faithful heart. He lived as one beloved of the Lord, and though death has called him from this earthly stage, his memory remains a bright and enduring light to all who knew him.

He was the son of the late Joe Plumley Jr. and the late Gladys Lorene Jones-Plumley, and he was raised with a loving family who shaped his character for his future life. He is also preceded in death by his son Gregory Lee Plumley, his brother Roger Dale Plumley, his sister Linda Sue Waddell, and he now joins them in eternal rest.

Harold graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School with the Class of 1966, and he carried the lessons of those years with him throughout his life. He was a man of practical skill and tireless work, first serving as a mechanic at Grady Whitlock Ford, and later laboring as a coal miner for Eastern Associated Coal for thirty-nine years. In both callings, he gave of himself with diligence and resolve, and he earned the respect of those who worked beside him. His hands were handy, his spirit was funny, and his heart was loving, so that even in the midst of hard work, he brought light and laughter to others.

He was a Christian man whose faith was not spoken only with words, but lived in the manner of his days. He loved his church and his church family, and he found joy in fellowship, worship, and the comfort of God's house. As the Psalmist wrote, "The Lord is my shepherd," and Harold's life bore witness to a soul that trusted in divine care. In seasons of joy and in seasons of trial, he remained anchored in the hope that is found in Christ.

His interests were many, and they reflected a heart that delighted in both fellowship and the treasures of ordinary life. He loved dirt track and drag racing, where speed and sound stirred his spirit. He also loved to find many treasures and goods for his church's rummage sales, ever seeking useful and cherished things that might serve a good purpose. In these pursuits, as in all else, he showed a man who knew how to find value, whether in a treasured object or in the simple pleasures of a day well spent.

Harold leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Katherine Jane Plumley; his son, Christopher Dean Plumley, and Carrie; his granddaughter, Ciara Elizabeth Plumley; his sister Pamela Richardson and Norm, his sister-in-laws Peggy Plumley and Alice Plumley; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends. Each of these lives was touched by his presence, and each carries forward some measure of the love, humor, and devotion that he so freely gave.

Though he has departed this mortal realm, Harold Dean Plumley's life remains a noble chapter written in the ink of faith, labor, and love. He was a man who served his family, his church, and his community with quiet strength and enduring kindness. Now may he rest in the peace of the Lord, where sorrow is no more, and where the faithful are received into everlasting joy.
In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to Beckley 1st Church of the Nazarene.
A celebration of Harold's life will take place on Wednesday July 1st, 2026 at 7:00pm at the Beckley 1st Church of the Nazarene located at 607 Johnstown Road, Beckley, WV 25801 with Pastor Chris Stevens officiating. The family will accept friends beginning at 5:00pm until service time. Arrangements have been entrusted to Melton Mortuary and Cremation Center who are honored to serve the Plumley family. To offer words of comfort or a condolence please visit Harold's tribute page.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Harold Dean Plumley, please visit our floral store.