Palmer Orvil King

1921 - 2013

1921-2013

Palmer Orvil King, age 92, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Sunday, December 15th, 2013. He was born on May 8th, 1921 in Valley City, North Dakota to Ed and Leila (Waltenbaugh) King. He lived most of his life in Coburg, Oregon.

Palmer served in the United States Navy from June 1942 to October 1945. He was married to Helen Drury in 1943.

After working for several years for the family business at the Coburg Mercantile Store, he worked for a few years for McDonald Candy Company and later purchased and operated Everyone's Market on Echo Hollow Rd. in Eugene.

Palmer was active in community service and served on the Coburg School Board, Coburg City Council, Volunteer Fire Department, Board of Trustees of the Elks Club and was a Mason. He liked deep sea fishing and some of his happiest memories were of fishing in Alaska. He also enjoyed hunting in Eastern Oregon.

Palmer was a man of integrity, a true gentleman and was someone his family and friends knew they could count on. He loved his family deeply and will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and uncle.

Palmer is survived by his wife, Helen, whom he was married to for 70 years; two daughters: Janice King and Jodi (& Steve) Rogers; four grandchildren: Meera Hays, Anna (& Kyle) Speaks, Keira Rogers and Karsen Rogers; one great-grandson: Atlas Speaks; and eight nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the Gateway Gardens staff for all they did to provide Palmer with a caring, loving home away from home. We especially want to acknowledge all the caregivers who took such very good care of him while he lived there. We also wish to extend heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful nurses and staff of Signature Hospice.

Private Graveside services were held on December 21st at the Coburg Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in Palmer's name to the IOOF Coburg Cemetery c/o IOOF WestPoint #62, Coburg, OR 97408 or to the WAVE organization (Wesley Assisting Veterans in Eugene) c/o Wesley United Methodist Church, 1385 Oakway Rd., Eugene, OR 97401.