Richard Dean Palmer

Richard Dean Palmer October 5, 1930 - January 27, 2011 Richard was born October 5, 1930 to Fred and Nellie Palmer. He passed away Thursday, January 27, 2010 at the age of 80. He and his brothers Ken and Jim spent their early years on a farmstead between Media and Raritan, Illinois, and he attended high school and played sports at Media Wever High School (the "Bulldogs"). Richard married Charlotte Bosier of Burlington, Iowa in 1952 and together they raised two children, Barbara and Randy, both, of Phoenix, Arizona. A graduate of Iowa State Teachers College, with a fine arts degree, he entered the U.S. Navy and served in Germany during the Korean War as a cryptographer. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, he went to work for Western Electric, the manufacturing arm of the Bell System, at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. In 1965 he was transferred to the Western Electric Regional Headquarters in Aurora, Colorado. He retired as a Department Chief in 1985. Richard and Charlotte raised their family in Denver, Colorado until 1985 when they moved to Grand Junction. While in Denver, Richard served as a volunteer at the Swedish Medical Center, and also as a Big Brother. In Grand Junction, Richard continued his volunteer service at St. Mary's Hospital. As an attendee of the Redlands United Methodist Church, he enjoyed services and was very touched by the numerous fellow church members who visited him at home when he was unable to go to worship, and while at the hospital. Richard (also called "Doc Palmer" by many) was known for his truly unique character, his generosity, passion for life, and love for his family and friends. He enjoyed a day in the field hunting pheasants, ducks or geese, fishing, a good game of poker, a long shot on a "sloppy or heavy track" and his dog Noel. Never sedentary, he was an avid traveler, journeying frequently to Arizona and Mexico, as well as the Caribbean, England, Ireland, France, Italy and Spain. Accompanying him on many of these adventures was his family, including his wife and his great friend Olive Roberts, both of whom preceded him in death. Survivors include his son Randy, daughter Barbara and her husband Jim Shurtliff, all of Phoenix, Arizona, his brother Jim Palmer of Bozeman, Montana, as well as his granddaughter Becky Garland, her husband Kevin and his great-granddaughter Savanna of Castle Rock, Colorado and also numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Like his wife Charlotte, Richard will be loved and missed TTEOT "Till the End of Time" and beyond. Please join us in a celebration of his life at a memorial service being held at the Redlands United Methodist Church, 527 Village Way, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 3rd. In lieu of flowers, it was Richard's wish that donations be made to the Homeless Mission of Redlands United Methodist Church or the Roice Hurst Humane Society of Grand Junction,