David Mead Palmer, son of George and Eva (Sanborn) Palmer was born in Alameda, Calif., in 1937.
David is survived by the love of his life, Judith (Eklund), at home in Oakville; and sisters, Sandra Orton and Grace (Thomas) Pangan.
Dave graduated from Grants Pass, Oregon High School. While on a scholarship with U.S. National Bank, he moved to Portland, Ore., where he started his early data processing experience on an IBM 650 computer system. Dave then joined Burroughs Corporation in Detroit Michigan. He later described that as, an absolute agony and then joined IBM Corporation in 1961. His business career took a turn for the better and he enjoyed 30 years with IBM in Michigan, Idaho, Seattle and Eugene, before retiring from IBM in Olympia in 1991.
During those 30 years, he received numerous technical and marketing awards. He also volunteered his time with many organizations, among them Mobility International USA, NW Cultural Information Associates, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Lane County on whose boards of Directors he served.
Locally he served in the Grays Harbor United Way, Stockmens-Coalition, and Oakville Chamber of Commerce.
For 10 years, Dave and Judith enjoyed organizing and producing the annual July 4th Parade in Oakville.
The Black River fish kill of 1989 caught David’s attention and interest. For the next decade, he was deeply involved in water quality and flooding issues. This led David to be the Founding member and 1st Chairman of the Chehalis River Council. He expanded that interest as a member of Board of Supervisors, Grays Harbor Conservation District, Board of Directors Chehalis Basin Land Trust member, Governors Watershed Coordinating Council member, Department of Ecology SW Region Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Member of the Critical Issues Council, Chehalis. In 2001, he was awarded The Environmental Excellence Award from the Department of Ecology, it is the highest award for recognizing environmental excellence in the state of Washington.
Those who knew David from his youth recognize any professional success was not the mirror of his personal life. David’s early adult years were a mixture of personal failure and business success. Alcoholism played a role in his personal failures, leading to many divorces and a failure as a father.
Karol Smith married David out of High School and is the mother of, David Palmer (Pamela Hislop) and Eric Zane Palmer. While in Detroit, he married Sandra (Stonecypher) the mother of Betty, Kathleen (Jim Lomax) Bryce, and Keith (all of whom survive him). Another divorce followed and a marriage to Sherryl Bieber introduced Jeffrey Bieber into the family. When that marriage ended, a 1979 marriage to Ellen (Luttrell) introduced Lee Luttrell into the family. During that marriage David finally realized the damage his drinking had done to him, his children, and former wives; he credited his change to a ‘hitting rock-bottom’ experience while at a 1986 professional retreat. He also realized that his sudden change to sobriety could not undo any of the harm or shame he caused his children. This is something he regrets to his dying day. Ellen succumbed to a 4 year bout with Multiple Myeloma in 2000.
Over the years David came to know chaplains, psychiatrists, and counselors quite well. Each of them was quite surprised when David introduced them to Judith in 2000, seeking their opinion on a budding romance. Inspired by their unanimous support, Dave and Judith were married in July of 2000. David leaves Judith at the family home outside of Oakville, surrounded by the beautiful farm land, gardens, horses, Rufus the farm dog (rest in peace) and all the critters he has come to love.
In addition to Judith and his two sisters, David is survived by his previously mentioned children, four stepchildren, six grandchildren, eight nieces and nephews and several great-grandchildren.
A celebration of David's life service will be held at the Oakville United Methodist Church, Sept. 24, 2016, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Oakville United Methodist Church.
