John Palmer

1924 - 2020

John Palmer
December 12, 1924 - December 6, 2020
Colorado Springs, Colorado - After contracting the COVID virus shortly before Thanksgiving Day, John S. Palmer passed away peacefully on the morning of December 6, 2020 - less than one week short of his 96th birthday. John was born on December 12, 1924 (12-12-24) in Derby, KS. He spent his early years on the family farm during the Great Depression in rural Sedgwick County, KS attending school in nearby Mulvane. After graduation from High school, John joined the Navy in 1943 and was sent to the South Pacific to join in the fight against Japan. He was a member of the flight crew for a carrier-based Avenger torpedo bomber (the same type of aircraft flown by the late President George H.W. Bush) flying most of his missions from the deck of the USS Bataan. Some of his last missions saw him take part in dropping supplies to American POW's held in camps on the Japanese main island.
In the post-war years, John decided to attend college on the GI bill by enrolling at the Colorado School of Mines. It was while attending the School of Mines that John first experienced the beauty of Colorado and developed what would be a life-long desire to be amongst the mountains. From the School of Mines, he transferred to the University of Wichita (what would later become Wichita state University) and took a job with the Boeing Company. The Boeing Company and the aerospace industry would be John's life work. It wasn't long into his career with Boeing that he met a pretty, young secretary from Springfield, MO - Mary Ann Sawtelle - and they married in 1951. In those early years of marriage John and Mary Ann traveled to the Canadian Rockies and to Colorado. Those early visits to Colorado further fueled John's love of Colorado and its mountains. In 1955 the young couple welcomed their first child, Scott, followed in 1958 by a daughter, Traci. They started their family while living in the Wichita area but in a dream fulfilled, the family relocated to suburban Denver in 1961 and began a life in Colorado where John worked for the Martin Company (today's Lockheed/Martin Waterton Canyon complex). In Colorado the family enjoyed camping, jeep rides, and cheering for that new team, the Broncos. Two particularly favorite activities were sunrise breakfast picnics along the Rampart Range and cheering wildly in the South Stands of old Bear's stadium.
In 1967 following the end of a government contract, John left the Martin Company and returned to Wichita and the Boeing Company. For the next twenty-seven years John worked in the engineering department at Boeing, enjoying both his work and the respect of his co-workers. While his family lived a full life in Wichita, a high point of every year was the summer vacation trip back to Colorado. When
John and Mary Ann retired, of course they moved to Colorado, first to the western slope at Grand
Junction and then in 2013 to Colorado Springs where the entire family was able to gather and enjoy John's final years.
He was preceded in death by his "sweetheart forever', wife of 66 years, Mary Ann, his mother, Bessie, his father, Raymond, his brother, Martin, and sisters; Lois Jane and Betty Rae. He is survived by his loving children, son Scott (Faye), and daughter, Traci - both of Colorado Springs. Grandsons Raymond (Melanie) Palmer of Fayetteville, AR, Carl Palmer of Brooklyn, NY, and Brian Keimig of Colorado Springs and Great Granddaughters Elise and Cora Palmer, of Fayetteville, AR. He was a great dad and a fine man - one more connection to our nation's heroic past is gone.