HANSVILLE — The first Kitsap County resident to die of swine flu was in good health, but within three weeks of falling ill died at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton.

Two other people have died in the county of H1N1 influenza, known as swine flu, but were not Kitsap County residents, according to the Kitsap County Health District.

Charles Plummer, 59, of Hansville was a biologist for the state Department of Transportation at the department’s Shoreline office, and a van pool and ferry commuter.

Pamela Plummer said her husband first felt sick on Sept. 28 and came home from work early.

“He thought he had the flu,” Pamela Plummer said. “He sounded nasally, feverish off and on, and fatigued.”

The public was not notified of the two other Kitsap County swine flu deaths because they were not Kitsap County residents, said Health Department spokesman Scott Daniels. Daniels said those those people died last spring.

From Sept. 19 to Oct. 19, five people were hospitalized with H1N1 flu, Daniels said.

Pamela Plummer said her husband was in good health before contracting the disease.

Charles Plummer was taken to the hospital Oct. 6.

At first he maintained his appetite, but lost his desire to eat as he grew more ill. He slowly developed severe pneumonia, which caused kidney failure, Pamela Plummer said.

Charles Plummer died Oct. 18, according to the Kitsap County Coroner’s Office.

Pamela Plummer said she didn’t know where her husband contracted the illness, but said she and their daughter have not shown any symptoms.

Plummer grew up in Tacoma and earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from Central Washington University.

He and his family moved to Hansville 13 years ago mostly because they loved living in the relaxed, natural community.

“He liked the surroundings,” Pamela Plummer said. “It was a more relaxed commute than his previous route (from Tacoma).”

Herald Editor Celeste Cornish contributed to this article.