Obituary of Rev. Harry Palmer

Wayland / West Virginia – Reverend Harry Palmer, 97 years of age, passed away September 3, 2017. Rev. Harry was a former resident of the Wayland area, residing there for over 12 years, leaving the area in 1998. 

Harry was born December 18, 1919 in Marathon, NY the son of Fred and Ruth (Squires) Palmer.  Harry graduated from Marathon High School and then attended Houghton College, where he met his wife, Pearl Burleigh.  Harry and Pearl were married in 1942 and moved to Louisville, KY where he attended and graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Rev. Harry chose to preach in small town churches during his career that included congregations in Indiana, Maine, New York and West Virginia.  He was very active in community activities including volunteer fire departments, Boy Scouts, Red Cross, Community Chest, Council of Churches and AARP 55 and Alive.  During their marriage, Harry and Pearl loved to camp and led many church outings.

Rev. Harry was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Pearl; a son, Mark; an infant daughter, Ruth; and a brother Howard.  He is survived by his son Bill Palmer and his wife Lee of TX and his daughter Nancy Turley and her husband Jim of W.VA; his grandchildren, Jill and Todd Praisner, Kelly Palmer, Stephanie and Brad Bierman, Amy and Jason Scott, JD and Sabrina Turley, Michael and Rachel Palmer and Mark David and Dawn Palmer; along with 12 great-grandchildren.

A very special thank you to the staff of the Ridgemont and Arthur B. Hodges Center for their care.  You truly are “angels on earth!”

Reverend Harry Palmer’s visitation and memorial service took place September 5, 2017 at the Ashford Church of God in West Virginia.  Committal prayers and interment will take place at Vernon Cemetery in Vernon, NY in October and at the convenience of his family.  Contributions in memory of Rev. Harry Palmer may be made to The Presbytery of West Virginia, 520 Second Ave., South Charleston, WV  25303 or to the National Peace Foundation, 660 Eleventh Street NW, Suite 202, Washington, D.C. 20001.