Carlton Plunkett Jr.

Carlton Plunkett Jr., born on July 20, 1971, in Ithaca, NY, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in that same place that always held his heart, on August 16, 2026. The arc of Carlton’s life traces not only the roads of Tompkins County but spans out into the memories and love of those who knew him deeply—a beloved son, wonderfully devoted partner, loving father and steadfast friend.

From the beginning, Carlton’s story was interwoven with compassion and resilience. He was the cherished son of Charlotte R. Plunkett, who survives him, her love a constant pillar throughout his fifty-five years. The early lessons of kindness, patience, and quiet strength were instilled in him by his late father, Carlton Plunkett, and the four gentle spirits who now watch over him: Norman and Mable Symons, his grandparents on his mother’s side, and Bertram and Iva Plunkett, his grandparents on his father’s side. His Grandfather Norman was especially special to Carl, he was not a man of many words, but when he spoke he commanded respect and people listened. He taught Carl many valuable lessons and instilled his values that Carl carried with him all of his life. He was kind and patient with Carl, they built things together, cut wood and worked the farm together. Carl was devastated when his grandfather passed, and in times when he was lost in life he would ask himself, “What would Grandpa do?”

His parents taught him the ways of farming and his accumulated knowledge of agriculture throughout his life was amazing. Carl loved to cook from a very young age, when he was three years old he awoke from sleep before his mom one day, he decided to not bother her for breakfast; He moved a chair or stool to the stove and proceeded to make himself oatmeal. He succeeded and since then he could be found in the kitchen with his mom and Grandma Mable assisting in the kitchen and learning family recipes. Both his mother and grandmother were great cooks and Carl also went on to become a great cook. He cooked his family recipes and added a few of his own, including his “Bachelor Chow,” recipes and his homemade hot sauces. His Linguine with Clam Sauce was divine and usually what people would request for him to make.

Carl loved fishing, bowling, listening to music and watching the meteor showers in August from the family farm. He was an avid reader and always had a book going on his nightstand, in his car in case he had to wait for one of us to get out from an appointment. He was a fan of The Boston Red Sox, The NY Giants, The Boston Celtics, and of course his favorite College Football team was his Seminoles from Florida State University, he loved to attend the rival football game of FSU vs Syracuse Orangemen.

Carlton’s world was always anchored in the place of his birth—Ithaca. He was a graduate of Ithaca High School with honors. Following graduation, he went on to receive his Associate's Degree from Erie Community College. He then attended Florida State University on a bowling scholarship and graduating with a double major. In the changing seasons of his beloved community, he found solace and inspiration, forging connections that left lasting impressions on everyone fortunate enough to cross his path. Whether sharing quiet conversations, lending a steady hand, or kindling laughter with his unique humor, Carlton’s presence was a blessing.

His journey through life was also shared in meaningful ways with Wanda Padilla-Wells, whose enduring love and friendship brought warmth and joy to Carlton’s days. He embraced Charles “Chas” Wells II and Denver Wells as step-sons, offering them guidance, laughter, and a sense of belonging that will persist like gentle echoes through their lives. Carl’s favorite band was Rush who he’d seen in concert over 21 times. He and Wanda attended a Rush concert in Buffalo, her second time seeing Rush. Carl attended many concerts throughout his life, too many to name but among his favorite were Metallica, Creed, Eric Johnson, BB King, ZZ Top, etc. He shared his love of music with Wanda and his two stepsons Chas and Denver and took the to many concerts, all the concerts they’ve been to, it was Carl who took them.

Carl loved his pets since he was a young boy, there was a picture of him at 2 or 3 reading to his dog “Sweetheart” and the book was upside down. He always reminisced about his pets who had passed with tears in his eyes. Among his beloved pets were “Peanut” the hunting dog, “Freja” and “Baker,” his Labrador Retriever “Abbey”, cats that he raised with Wanda and her sons: “Rollie,”. “Persephone,” “Jimbo,” and “Bella, his Mom’s Labrador Retriever. Present day they were raising “Athena,” An Abyssinian and their kitten “Rin” a Tortoise Shell/ Long hair Tabby. Carl often said he liked animals more than humans and they loved him too, he had a way with animals.

When Carl learned of his Cherokee heritage from his Grandma Mable and his Blackfoot and Iroquois and Irish heritage from his father, he made it a point to inform himself about the cultures and even taught himself how to speak Cherokee. His maternal grandfather was English and Carl was able to search and find the Symons Coat of Arms and the Plunkett Coat of Arms.

As we reflect on Carlton’s journey, as a professional bowler, law clerk, marketing strategist or owner of his own business, we remember a life marked by steadfastness and depth of character. His legacy is etched in the devotion of his surviving family and friends, and in the way he made people feel seen and valued. Even as we grieve his passing, we give grateful voice to the love he fostered and the countless gentle moments he shared with us all.

He will be forever in our hearts and never forgotten. We will always be grateful for the times we had together, even though his life ended too soon.