Obituary of Donald R. Palmer

Return to Table of Contents

Donald R. Palmer

August 17, 1928 - April 13, 2013

The Hampton Union,
April 21, 2013

Donald R. PalmerNORTH HAMPTON — Donald R. Palmer, 84, died peacefully Saturday, April 13, 2013, at Webster at Rye, surrounded by his family.

Born Aug. 17, 1928, in Exeter, he was a son of the late Philip and Gertrude (Paulsen) Palmer.

Don attended Hampton schools, graduating from Hampton Academy with the Class of 1946. He served as class president.

After graduation, Don joined the United States Coast Guard and was stationed aboard the USCGC Mackinaw, as well as at a LORAN Station on Makin Atoll, South Pacific, and a tour at Governors Island, New York.

In 1954 he graduated from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. Upon graduation, Don joined Abbott Laboratories as a sales representative. He returned to New Hampshire in 1960, opening Palmer's Pharmacy in Hampton and, later, a second location in North Hampton.

A registered pharmacist for 50 years, Don was the New Hampshire recipient of the 1977 AH Robbins Award for outstanding community service.

Following through with an earlier interest as a special officer for the Hampton Police Department, Don began a second career in 1977, joining the New Hampshire State Police as a compliance investigator. He took great satisfaction from this position, which he held until his retirement in 1990.

Don served his community in numerous roles including two terms as selectman for the town of North Hampton and member of the Hampton Cooperative Bank board of directors, member of the North Hampton Ambulance Association.

He was also a charter member of the Hampton Rotary and member of the Hampton Jaycees. Don was instrumental in the founding of the Seacoast Visiting Nurse Association, something of which he was very proud.

An avid sailor and fisherman, Don was happiest at the helm. He also enjoyed skiing and traveling, especially to Hawaii and his camp in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. In addition, Don was an accomplished woodworker, with family and friends reaping the benefits of his talents.

Don shared 60 years of marriage with his late wife, Jane (McGaw) Palmer, who died in 2011.

Family members include his son, Douglas Palmer and his wife Lori of Kailua, Hawaii; his daughters, Donna Johnson and her husband David of Buxton, Maine, and Sue Ingram and her husband Dick of Springfield, Ill., and North Hampton; brother Allen "Bud" Palmer of Jupiter Fla.; grandchildren Sarah Palmer, Cara (Johnson) Laflamme, Colin and Tyler Ingram; four great-grandchildren, three nieces and one great-niece.

SERVICES: There will be no visiting hours. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27, at Christ Church, 43 Pine St., Exeter, NH 03833. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Winnacunnet High School Scholarship Fund, 1 Alumni Drive, Hampton, NH 03842.

Arrangements are by the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, Hampton.

Return to Table of Contents