Jerome Rudolph Plugge

Jerome Rudolph “Rudy” Plugge of Cordova, MD died at his home on Thursday, March 6, 2008. He was 79. Born October 9, 1928 in Skipton, he was the son of the late Jerome Henry and Mildred Cannon Plugge. After graduating from school in 1945 in Cordova, Rudy began to work for Elliott Trucking Company in Easton as a mechanic where he remained for five years. Rudy joined the Maryland National Guard in Centreville in 1945 and rose to the rank of Master Sergeant. In 1952 Rudy started Plugge’s Service Shop in Cordova and continued in business for 27 years installing dumps on farm trucks and selling boat motors. Plugge’s Service Shop was used by Esskay Company for many years as a terminal for its trucks. In addition to owning and operating a service shop, Rudy was also the owner of many race horses and worked in that business for many years. Prior to owning horses, Rudy was an avid jouster and won the Old St. Joseph’s Jousting Tournament in 1957. In 1978, during his time with horses, Rudy invented and patented a whirlpool for horses. The whirlpool circulated bubbling ice water around a horse’s legs, two legs at a time, soothing tendons that hurt after running around the track. The first whirlpool was constructed of metal and Rudy later made the whirlpools using fiberglass after other horseman at the racetracks began to admire his creation. The idea stemmed from the purchase of a bag of ice costing seventy five cents that Rudy used to put on the sore shins of one of his racing trotters. Rudy also acquired and patented a horse jogging cart which was used to exercise horses. In 1986 he sold the business and semi-retired, but was active in Plugge’s Service Shop, restoring Model T Fords, until the time of his death. For many years he was associated with the Antique Automobile Club of America. Rudy was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Easton and as a child was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cordova. He later became a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Easton. He served on the board of Directors of the Tuckahoe Steam and Gas Show for four years and remained a lifetime member of the Tuckahoe Steam and Gas Show until his death. Mr. Plugge is survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Elizabeth Dyott, whom he married January 1, 1950; two sons, Michael Hubert Plugge and his fiancé Lisa Dye, Glenn Dale Plugge and his wife Lisa; two sisters, Marjorie “Pete” Fox and Mildred Shortall; four grandchildren, Lesley, Lindsay, Jason and Tate Plugge; five great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law, Perry H. Dyott, Jr. and Barry T. Fox, Jr.; a sister-in-law, June Tribbett; several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews. He was predeceased by a daughter, Patricia Dionne Plugge, who died in 1951 at the age of 5 months; twin sisters who died shortly after birth in 1927; and a brother, Jerry “Smokey” Plugge, who died in 1988. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Easton. Friends may call on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 from 6 to 8 PM at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton. Burial will be at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be three nephews, Geoff and Gary Fox and Joey Shortall; brother in law, Perry Dyott; a nephew-in-law, Jeffrey Heinsohn; and a life-long friend, Kenny Schlotzhauer. Memorial donations may be made to Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Dr., Easton, MD 21601 or Immanuel Lutheran Church, 7215 Ocean Gateway, Easton, MD 21601, or to the Tuckahoe Steam & Gas Show, P.O. box 636, Easton, MD 21601.