Gerald Palmer

Gerald Edwin Palmer, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Aug. 14, 1924, in Norman, Ark., son of Dorsey and Hattie Horn Palmer. He and Thelma Long were married June 24, 1950, in Piggott, Ark.

Palmer served as a private in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1951. He was a veteran of World War II.

He was a member of Whitewater Baptist Church.

Surviving are two sons, Dwight "Ike" Palmer of Cape Girardeau, Stephen (Debbie) Palmer of Jackson; two daughters, Carol (Vernon) Burford of Kelso, Mo., Julia Green of Jackson; a brother, Ervin Palmer of Virginia; a sister, Freda Brown of St. Louis; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

After retiring in 1977 as a union welder/pipefitter, he moved to Grandin, Mo., to enjoy fishing and hunting. He moved to Benton, Mo., in 2003 to be closer to family, then to Missouri Veterans Home in 2006.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. today at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo., with chaplain Steve Francis officiating.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.