Ralph Palmer

SERVICES: 10:00 AM Wednesday, February 12, 2003, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, with Rev. Guadalupe Mayorga, associate pastor, officiating.<br><br>BURIAL: Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.<br><br>BIOGRAPHY: The son of a Panhandle farmer, Mr. Palmer was born on April 6, 1915 in Lelia Lake, Texas, the youngest of John & Sarah Hardy Palmer's eight children. He attended school in Alanreed and later graduated from West Texas State College in Canyon with a degree in business. In 1941, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy, completed flight training in Dallas, and was commissioned a lieutenant jg. While stationed at Quonset Point, R.I., he met and courted Bertha Griffin of Pawtucket, R.I. The couple married on May 21, 1944 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, a few months before Mr. Palmer shipped out to the Pacific theatre aboard the U. S. S. Ticonderoga. In early, 1945 on a mission over the island of Formosa (Taiwan), Palmer's plane failed to regain altitude and was forced to land. He and his co-pilot were captured and held in a Japanese prison camp through the remaining months of the war. His first child, Ralph Jr., was born during his imprisonment. Mr. Palmer received the American Defense Service medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign medal, the Victory medal, World War II, and the American POW medal, among other decorations. He completed military service in 1947 and settled with his family in Pampa. Mr. Palmer worked for more than 30 years at the Celanese Chemical Company before his retirement in 1985. He was preceded in death by his wife Bertha in 1988 at the age of 73, and a daughter Nancy Ann in 1983 at the age of 27.<br><br>SURVIVORS: 4 Sons: Ralph Palmer Jr., and wife Gunda of Tulsa, Oklahoma, John Palmer and wife Jan of Woodbridge, Virginia, Timothy Palmer of New York City, New York, and Ronald Palmer of Washington, D.C. 2 Daughters: Suzanne Sennetti and husband John of Miami, Florida, and Frances Viani and husband Gregory of Plano. 3 Grandsons: Brad Palmer and wife Penny of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ian Palmer and wife Lorna of Norman, Oklahoma, and Blaine Palmer of Clermont-Ferrand, France. 1 Granddaughter: Sarah Palmer of Woodbridge, Virginia. 1 Great-Grandson: Omri Palmer of Norman, Oklahoma. <br>