Robert Kenneth "Ken" Palmer

1934 - 2021

Robert Kenneth "Ken" Palmer

January 17, 1934 - March 21, 2021

Robert Kenneth "Ken" Palmer, 87, of Kalama, Wash., died on March 21, 2021 in Longview, Wash. Ken was born on January 17, 1934 in Wasser, North Carolina to George and Inez (Allen) Palmer.

The family moved to Kalama in 1937 when Ken was three years old.

At age 14 Ken started worked for the Kalama Shopping Center as a box boy. He attended Kalama High School and played on the basketball team. Ken was part of the 1950 State Championship team and the 1951 team that took second place in the State Tournament. After he graduated from high school in 1952 Ken joined the US Navy and was stationed in Tacoma, Wash. During his time in the Navy Ken would drive home on the weekends to work in the store and see his high school sweetheart, Margaret "Mocky" Johnson. Ken and Mocky were married on June 25, 1955 after he was discharged from the Navy. They had three children together, Douglas, Kathy and Diane.

As a young man Ken enjoyed a variety of activities including hunting, fishing, water skiing, bowling, hiking, snow skiing, traveling and spending time with his family. He enjoyed working with wood and made several beautiful grandfather clocks. He climbed Mt. St. Helens three times, the last time being in 2003 at age 69. At age 28 he became the Manager of the Kalama Shopping Center. Ken was an integral part of the business community in Kalama for many years and he purchased the store in the early 1980's.

Ken was left a widower when his wife Mocky passed away on July 12, 1988. On November 4, 1999 he was married to Linda Jean Dyer, also a long-time Kalama resident. His family grew larger when they were married, adding another daughter, Jeanne and a son, Bob. Ken and Linda enjoyed hosting large family functions for birthdays and holidays, hiking, traveling, babysitting and attending sports functions for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ken continued to work in the store until he retired in 2018, a total of 70 years.

Ken is survived by his sister Marge Knokey, sister Maudell Eisenbarth, sister Mildred Montgomery, wife Linda Palmer, son Doug Palmer (Julie), daughter Kathy Hymas (Kerry), daughter Diane Wagner (Dennis), daughter Jeanne Aschoff (Matt), son Bob Dyer (Angela), 11 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Mocky Palmer, sister Norma Sensebaugh, brother Fred Palmer and brother Ed Palmer.

There will be a memorial service on April 8, 2021 at 3 pm at the Rose Valley Friends Church. Due to COVID restrictions the gathering will be limited to immediate family. A link will be posted on the church's website: RoseValleyFriends.com and on their Facebook page at Facebook.com/rosevalleyfriends for anyone interested in viewing the service online.

A memorial contribution can be made to Community Home Health and Hospice in Longview or to the Kalama Basketball Boosters at Fibre Federal Credit Union.