The Reverend Richard Edward Ploth, a retired minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and recently of Dover Plains, NY died on Sunday, September 20th, 2015 from complications following a stroke. He had been a resident of The Grand Nursing Home in Pawling, NY for the past two months. Rev. Ploth would have been 82 next month.
“Dick” was born in Oceanside, Long Island, NY on October 6th, 1933, to Edward B. and Adelaide Combs Ploth and graduated from Oceanside High School in 1951. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Latin and Hebrew from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and a Masters of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary.
He was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the PCUSA by the then Brooklyn-Nassau Presbytery on Long Island and began his many pastorates at the Yaphank Presbyterian Church, followed by service to the Waverly Presbyterian Church in Waverly, NY, and then as Executive Presbyter for Northern New York Presbytery.
During his time in “the North Country,” he also worked as a management consultant for Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY teaching employees of many utility companies, nursing homes and community organizations. On weekends, he served several small churches who were without a full time pastor.
In 1992 he came to Long Island Presbytery as Interim Executive Presbyter, and in 1994 began a string of pastorates as Stated Supply or Interim, including the Presbyterian churches of East Moriches, Remsenberg, Sag Harbor, Setauket and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Jamesport, NY.
In 2006 he followed his wife, Lynda, to Ossining, NY and Hudson River Presbytery, where she was called to be pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Ossining. During their 9 years there, he served the Presbyterian churches in Scotchtown, NY and in Chester NY. He officially retired in 1998, but continued to work and serve until his health failed him in 2013.
Dick served on many councils and committees of the larger church, on community boards and projects and was a sought-after keynote speaker at high school graduations and other important occasions. He was gifted with eloquence, intelligence, a deep sense of humor and the absurd, and held every audience captive with his pithy stories and his rich theological thinking. He was a true pastor, committed to the ministry of presence with those who needed him as friend and counselor.
Rev. Ploth was an active member of several Rotary Clubs over the years, including as President in the Wavery, NY, Greenport, NY and Ossining, NY clubs. He had several types of pilot’s and instructor’s licenses, was an avid motorcyclist and a dedicated sailor The open cockpit plane he once flew is on display at the Rhinebeck Aerodrome. He authored two volumes of as yet unpublished anecdotes called “One Page at a Time,” which are based on radio broadcasts he did while in Northern NY.
Richard married Ivy Vurture in 1961 and became the father of John, Rick, Ivy Ann and Allan Ploth. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1982 he married the Rev. Lynda S. Clements and their son, Joel Brooks Clements was born. An avid feminist by his own description, Rev. Ploth “kept his name when he got married,” and together he and Lynda gave their son her last name. He is survived with deep love by all the children, his wife, Lynda, his brother, David B. Ploth, 7 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
