Rest in peace, Fred Pflugrath

The genealogy community throughout the state will be saddened to know that Fred Pflugrath passed away peacefully on the evening of Thursday, December 17.

Fred joined the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society in 1995. He edited our Appleland Bulletin for many years, and was one of our senior researchers. In the spring, before the snakes came out, he could be found walking old cemeteries throughout North Central Washington, and WAGS members always looked forward to his cemetery tours. He was a human encyclopedia of local history (especially the Upper Wenatchee Valley), and fulfilled numerous speaking engagements at area museums and retirement homes.

Perhaps his best-remembered contribution will be his Civil War research. He single-handedly identified, researched, and documented information on almost 2,500 Civil War veterans from all over Eastern Washington. Much of this research is available in 35 binders in the WAGS Library with an index available online. Additionally, he took the extra step of submitting this information to the National Grave Registration Project (part of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War). Fred considered it part of his mission to connect families with their Civil War ancestors, arranging for headstones and markers, and orchestrating dedication and memorial ceremonies.

Some say his heart was even bigger than he was! He always willingly shared data, resources and expertise with anyone wanting information, whether inside or outside Chelan and Douglas counties.

In 2015, Fred was the first recipient of the Washington State Genealogical Society’s President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement, a recognition designed to single out that rare individual who has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations. Those who were blessed to have known Fred will agree that he good-naturedly and self-deprecatingly fit this description to a T, and we will miss seeing him hard at work at his computer over in the corner.

Susan Rumble

WAGS President