Vivian L. Palmer

1940 - 2019

GALESBURG - Vivian L. Palmer, 79, Galesburg, died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease at 7:11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg.

She was born July 17, 1940, in Galesburg to Alfred E. and Caroline R. (Greene) White. She married Kay Dale Townsend in Galesburg. She later married Carl J. "PeeWee" Palmer on May 5, 1967, in Chicago. He survives.

Also surviving are a daughter, Peggy S. (and Bill) Logan of Knoxville; two sons, Ted E. (and Karla) Townsend of Colona and Alan R. (and Tammy) Palmer of Knoxville; six grandchildren, Chandra K (and Korey) Brown, David A. Townsend, A.J. (and Kylie) Smith, Mitchell J. (and Emily Nichols) Palmer, Colten A. Palmer and Chloe C. Palmer; three great-grandchildren, Leo, Owen and Barrett; a sister-in-law, Carol White of Stonington; and several nephews, nieces and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Bill White.

Viv graduated from Galesburg High School in 1958. She was a school bus driver for Galesburg and later Knoxville school districts for several years and retired in 1996. Her love of children made a perfect career match as a school bus driver. She established many wonderful relations with her kids on the bus.

She was also a homemaker. She enjoyed cooking, sewing and gardening. Viv loved boating and spending time with family and friends at her parents' house on the river. She enjoyed bowling and was on many bowling leagues with her mother and daughter. She enjoyed playing cards. She played in many bridge groups and loved playing Pitch with her family. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandma and friend. Though she was taken from us years ago by this disease, her husband and daughter were wonderful caretakers and spent many days by her side. The family would like to thank all of the Knox County Nursing Home staff for their wonderful care.

Visitation will be 5 to to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Service Galesburg Chapel. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. at the chapel. Rev. James Ecklund will officiate. Cremation will follow the funeral service. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.