Ronald Leray (Pete) Palmer, age 89 of the Georgetown Ohio Veterans Home passed away Sunday morning Nov. 20, 2016 at the Mt. Orab Mercy Medical Center. Pete was born in Lawshe, Ohio on May 7, 1927. He was the third of 10 children born to James Thaddeus and Edna Maxwell Palmer. Pete was on the Cradle Roll at the Flatrun Methodist Church and attended Flatrun School in first and second grade.

A 1945 Graduate of Belfast High School, Pete was an outstanding athlete. He entered the U.S. Army on Sept. 11, 1945 and served as a muleskinner at Fort Sill, Oklahoma before being assigned to Germany in World War II, being honorably discharged on Feb. 1, 1947.

He married Ann Snider on April 11, 1951. Together they operated a farm near Belfast and Pete was active in the Belfast United Methodist Church serving as Sunday School Superintendent for many years. He served on the Highland County Farm Bureau Board, was a member of the Farm Bureau Council, the Highland County Feeder Pig Association and the North Adams High School Boosters. He was an avid hunter, sports enthusiast, and card player. Above all, his greatest joy was his family.

Pete is survived by his six children; Barbara (Fred) Yochum of Mowrystown, Beverly (Dale) Smiley of Seaman, Nancy (Roger) West of Mowrystown, Ronald L (Debbie) Palmer, Jr. of Belfast, Charlie (Debbie) Palmer of Seaman, and John (Amy) Palmer of Leesburg; four grandsons, 14 granddaughters, 17 great grandsons, 15 great granddaughters, two step grandchildren and three step great grandchildren.
Also surviving are two sisters, Ilena Palmer and Effie Behm and a brother, Dean (Sandy) Palmer all of the Belfast area, two sisters-in-law, Gail Martin of Canton and Juanita Snider of Peebles; one brother-in-law, Robert (Luz) Snider of Ann Arbor, Mich.; 30 nieces and nephews and many cousins and friends also survive.

Pete was preceded in death by his wife, Ann (on Oct. 17, 1982), his parents, four brothers; Paul, Ed, Dale and Jim and two sisters; Anna Graham and Geneva Snider.

Following his career in farming, Mr. Palmer resided near Seaman for several years, then relocated to the Ohio Veterans Home in Georgetown where he enjoyed trips, volleyball, Poker, gardening and Bingo.

A “Red, White and Blue”service was conducted at the Veterans Home on Sunday, Nov. 20 with family, staff, and residents in attendance as a tribute to Mr. Palmer’s military service.
The family will receive friends at a visitation held on Tuesday Nov. 22, 2016 from 4- 8 p.m. at the Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home/ Lewis Sullivan Chapel in Seaman. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday Nov. 23, 2016 at 2 p.m. with Richard Lloyd officiating. Burial will follow at the Tranquility Cemetery with military rights performed by the Adams County Honor Guard. Memorial Contributions can be made to the Ohio Veterans Home Activity Fund.