Mr. Harry L. Palmer

Harry L. Palmer of Athens passed away on June 5, 2015. He was 97 years old. Born in Coxsackie on July 27, 1917 to Harry G. Palmer and Katherine (Klebes) Palmer, Harry was the class president of the Coxsackie High School graduating class of 1934. In 1936 he entered Union College and graduated in 1940 with a degree in electrical engineering. Growing up, Harry loved sports and, in particular, baseball. He played on both high school and college teams and was captain of the Union College baseball team. He continued to play baseball after moving to Athens and was active on local teams for many years. For most of his adult life, Harry was an avid golfer and, most recently, a regular player at Thunderhart in Freehold. He played his last round in October 2014. On the first day of spring in 1942, Harry married Jeannette Whiting at the First Reformed Church of Athens. After his discharge from the United States Navy in 1946 Harry and Jeannette moved to Athens where they lived and raised their children. Their house on South Franklin Street was home to Jeannette's family for four generations. Jeannette passed away in 2013 after 71 years of marriage. In 1946 he joined his father and brother in the Palmer Lumber Company in Ravena. The company was involved in developing and building many homes in the Ravena area. In 1965 he left the lumber business and went to work for the NYS Office of General Services. He retired from NYS in 1982. While living in Athens, Harry was very involved in the community. He was a member of the Coxsackie-Athens Central School Board of Education for 20 years, serving as President for part of that time. He represented Athens in the Greene County Legislature for six years and was a member of the Greene County Planning Board. He was instrumental in procuring the sites for the current Athens Riverfront Park and Senior Citizens Center in Athens. He was involved in organizing the Little League in Athens and spearheaded construction of the new field at its present location. Harry was a long-standing and active member of the First Reformed Church of Athens where he served many years as a church elder. He served as a Trustee of both the Catskill Savings Bank and the Commercial Mutual Insurance Company. His most important role, however, was that of devoted husband and a loved and admired father. Harry is survived by his four children; Jean Doneit and her husband Fred of Poughkeepsie, Barbara Forehand and her husband Arthur of Enterprise, Alabama, Harry, Jr. and his wife Kathleen of Truro, Massachusetts, and William and his wife Suzanne of Athens. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Martha Bradicich, Fred and Peter Doneit, Benjamin Stong, Emily Webb and Jonathan and Audrey Palmer, along with six great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, June 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the First Reformed Church of Athens. Immediately following at 12:15 p.m. there will be a memorial service in celebration of Harry's life, also at the church. Interment will take place following the service at the new Athens Rural Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Richards Funeral Home, 28 N. Vernon Street, Athens, N.Y. Condolences may be made at www.richardsfuneralhomeinc.net. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Reformed Church of Athens, 16 North Church St., Athens, NY 12015.

Mr. Harry L. Palmer

July 27, 1917 - June 5, 2015