William Dewitt Pletcher

Dr. William “Bill” DeWitt Pletcher, 93, of Goshen, passed away peacefully at 6:00 pm on December 20, 2022.  He was surrounded by family, his longtime nurse Diane Yoder and his wife Rosemary (Rouch) Pletcher.  William D. was born in Goshen, Indiana on September 9, 1929, the only child of William E. Pletcher and Ethel P. (Ingleright) Pletcher.

Dr. Pletcher attended Parkside School, Goshen High School, Goshen College and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago where he graduated in the class of 1955. He did an internship at the University of Chicago (Evanston).  Dr. Pletcher and his wife Sarah completed three years of 1-W alternative service at the Ryder Hospital in Humacao, Puerto Rico in pediatric/adult medicine and obstetrics.  He then did a residency in Internal Medicine with focus in hematology at the University of Michigan.

In 1963 he started at the Elkhart Clinic where the burgeoning field of oncology became his focus and treated thousands of patients during 53 years of practice.  He served as Chief of Staff at the Elkhart Hospital and was on the Boards of Elkhart Hospice and the Center for Healing and Hope.

A representative of the Hoosier Cancer Research Network applauded Dr. Pletcher’s years of service with the organization during which time he worked with educational programs, clinical trials and co-authored nine studies in cancer research.

Dr. Pletcher married Sarah Fike on July 15, 1956.  They enjoyed 42 wonderful years until Sarah’s passing on March 13, 1998.  On November 12, 2005, he married Rosemary Rouch.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 17 years, Rosemary, of Goshen, William's children:  Dr. Steven (Gina) Pletcher of Fargo, ND; Barbara (Kevin) Kaufman of Carmel, IN; Dr. Stanley (Shelley) Pletcher of Niles, MI, and Brian (Jennifer) Pletcher of Indianapolis, IN.  William’s grandchildren:  Christina (Jordan) Heisler, Caitlyn (Wolfgang) Huser, Bethany (David) Crawshaw, Benjamin (Lauren) Kaufman, Josiah (Crystal) Kaufman, Laura Kaufman, Matthew (Rose) Pletcher, Erin, Jocelyn and Tori Pletcher, Sarah Olivia, Samuel and William B. Pletcher,  William’s great-grandchildren: Charles, George and Samuel Crawshaw, Liam and Ivy Kaufman, Sophie Heisler, Luella Kaufman, Baby Pletcher (due in March, Matthew and Rose), Addison and Baby Huser (due in August, Caitlyn and Wolfgang),  Rosemary’s children: Dr. Rosalie (Ryan) McBride of Elkhart and Dr. Carl (Dorinda) Rouch of Grand Junction, CO.  Rosemary’s grandchildren:  Jamie, Alexander and Nolan McBride, Reed and Sophie Rouch.

He is survived by many other beloved international sons and daughters including Kazumi and Kazuo Kinouchi of Japan, Getachew Wodajo of Ethiopia and John Keshishian of Jordan, whom he and Sarah sponsored in their education in the United States and became lifelong friends of the family.  In addition, he is survived by his beloved lifelong nurse and family friend, Diane Yoder.

Dr. Pletcher was involved in missions throughout his life and accompanied his family, grandchildren and friends to Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Guatemala numerous times. He lived a life of service to others and faithfulness to God and will be missed greatly by all who knew him.

Visitation will be Sunday, Jan. 1 from 2-6 pm at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life service will be held Monday, Jan. 2 at 1:30 pm at the Creekside Church of the Brethren, Elkhart. Pastor Rosanna McFadden will officiate.

A private graveside service will be held at Rock Run Cemetery, Goshen.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Church Community Service, Elkhart https://secure.givelively.org/donate/church-community-services-inc or Center for Healing and Hope, Goshen https://chhclinics.org/donate/ .