Joseph Benjamin PALMER

PALMER, Joseph Benjamin "Ben" Passed away peacefully on Nov. 5, 2024, in the arms of his youngest child. He was born in Portland, Maine, June 15, 1933. He grew up in Rhode Island and summered on Sebago Lake. Ben graduated from St. George's School in Middletown, RI, and attended Brown University. In 1952, he met the love of his life, Clara Reynolds, who survives him. They were married for 71 years. Together, they raised 9 children in Lexington, MA.

Ben was the owner of Palmer Spring Co, which he ran for 70 years. The company was established by his great-grandfather, Joseph Palmer, in Boston, in 1849, and was run continuously since.

He is survived by his sons, William, Thomas, and John (Carla) Palmer; his daughters, Caroline (Stephen) Dade, Stephanie (Michael) Hurley, and Marianne Palmer and her partner Steven Peabody; his daughters-in-law, Carol, and Julie Palmer. He was predeceased by his sons, Richard, Robert, and Stephen. Also survived by fourteen grandchildren, Julia, Emile, Anna, Thomas, Quinten, Rachael, Clara, Stephen, John, Madeline, William, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Joseph Benjamin; and eleven great-grandchildren.

Ben and Clara had a very generous nature and always shared what they had with others, taking many friends into their home in times of need, and picking up hitch-hikers in their school bus on road trips, even giving them a jacket or twenty bucks. They raised their family in the Christian faith and instilled strong ethics and morals in their family. He left an incredible legacy and will be greatly missed.

A Funeral Service will be held Monday, November 11, at the Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Meriam St., Lexington, at 11am. Visiting Hours at the Douglass Funeral Home, 51 Worthen Rd., LEXINGTON, on Sunday, from 2pm to 5pm. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Private interment at Raymond Village Cemetery in Raymond, Maine. Douglass/Customer logo