James Palmer
Bethalto | Thursday, September 6 2012
James E. Palmer, 86, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Covington, TN.
He was born on March 27, 1926 in Baldwin MS, the son of Jesse O. & Ethel (Oswalt) Palmer.
He married Christine (Williams) on January 25, 1947 in St. Louis, MO. She passed away on March 17, 2003. He then remarried Bernice (Broadstreet) Wiseman on April 19, 2004, she survives in Bethalto.
James served his country during WWII in the U.S. Army, 96th Infantry Division in Okinawa and the Philippines Islands. He was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in the Battle of Okinawa, as well as Combat Infantry Badge. He was employed as a machinist with Wagner Electric and then for Moog Automotive where he was a supervisor. He was a member of the Meadowbrook Church of God, where he was most of his life and was also a member of the Bethalto Church of God and presently the South Roxana1st Assembly. He loved woodworking, traveling, spending time with his family especially his grandchildren and his Chihuahua “Cookie”.
He is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Jimmy L Palmer of Eureka Springs, AR and James K. & Tracy Palmer of Bethalto; three daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda C. and Gary Wilhelm of Arnold, MO, Deborah J. and Patrick Morgan of Wood River and Vicki L. and Charles Yancey of Fosterburg; nine grandchildren; several great grandchildren; one brother and sister-in-law, Howard “Gene” & Geneva Palmer of Albertville, AL; several nieces and nephews: his extend family with his wife Bernice, Glenda Armstrong of Bethalto, Beatrice & Cici Schulmeister-MacNair of Godfrey and Judith & Cox of Paris Landing, TN and several grand and great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruby Hamilton and Inez Outlaw.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm Monday, September 10, 2012 at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am at the funeral home on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 with Pastor Ritch Goldizen and Pastor Jeremy Robinson officiating.
Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto, with military rites being preformed by the Alton VFW Post 1308.
Memorials may be made to charity of ones choice.
Online condolences and guestbook may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com.
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
