Sarah Ruth Palmer

Sarah Ruth Walker Palmer, born May 30, 1947, passed away on November 8, 2016 from injuries due to a fall in the hospital where she continued her 17 year battle with multiple myeloma and breast cancer. She was married to Robert Charles Palmer for 47 years. Together they had 2 sons, the late Charles Douglas Palmer and Wesley Darrin Palmer. Ruth was the 2nd of nine children born to Ruth Jeanette Goodwin Walker and L.G. Walker, Jr. Born in Alexander City, Alabama, her family moved to Texas, her dad’s home state, when she was 5 years old, living in the Houston area from that time forward. She was a life long member of the Watters Road Church of Christ.

Ruth had an exceptional career in the consumer goods food industry, a true trailblazer for women in many areas of her career. She first started working for a local grocery store at age 15, working for Weingartens for 10 years throughout school. Then she became the 1st female Borden Foods hired internationally in sales. A year later Mars Inc. came calling and who would turn down an opportunity to work with Snickers and M&M’s and really call it anything but a sweet job. Again being the 2nd female Mars had hired in the USA for sales. Ruth’s career with Mars spanned 20 years in Sales and Marketing with increasing promotions and work responsibilities for over $250 million responsibility in the USA and in 15 Western European Countries. Few people could have a career with such success and for companies with the stature that she did. She loved her work and considered going to work each day her hobby. She felt her job showed her and her family the world and provided opportunities to meet people, go places, special events that otherwise could never have imagined. Not intending to sit still in retirement years, after moving to her beautiful ranch in Limestone County, Ruth opened a small town Sears Franchise Store, where her keen knowledge of retail business and marketing earned her a top 10 spot on Sears Best Stores. But 3 years later a diagnosis of 2 different cancers would require her full attention as long battle to overcome these began, she sold her “toy” store as she called it. She spent her remaining years as a full time volunteer.

Much of her spare time Ruth spent working as a volunteer on youth related organizations. Through a sponsorship with Mars, Ruth was introduced to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where she became a lifetime member of several committees and was elected to the Board of Directors. She became a Lifetime Director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 2016. Her passion was anything to do with scholarships and through the corporate program she managed, was able

to start several long lasting programs that have generated several hundred scholarships since inception. As a Rodeo friend recently stated, HLSR was a great event before Ruth came along, but HLSR exploded in growth with her corporate support and personal dedications, the likes of which the show had never seen. Serving on the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation was truly close to her heart. Ruth served on the Philanthropy Committee and the Executive Committee again putting her interests to work for the youth of Texas. A trailblazer once again, Ruth was the first female named to the Board of Directors for the Houston Food Retail Manufacturers Association who provided scholarships to youth in the food business. Her most recent community involvement was being appointed by the mayor to serve on the City of Taylor Lake Village Planning and Zoning Commission.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Robert Charles Palmer; son, Wesley Darrin Palmer; four brothers and two sisters. Aunts Ruby Walker Sanders and Margaret Walker. Sister in law, Terri Agnes Palmer, niece Cheryl Oldweiler and spouse Andrew. She is also survived by best friends of 40 years or longer: Patsy Pillows, Pat Wood McCreary, Betty Anz, Norma Iltis and Fay Bogan. She is preceded in death by her son, Charles Palmer, her parents L. G. and Ruth Jeanette Walker, sister Rebecca Smith and brother Tommy Walker who left the world far too soon due to their own cancer battles. Also brother in law, Raymond Palmer.

If you desire donations may be made to the Watters Rd Church of Christ youth program, 3616 Watters Rd, Pasadena Tx 77505 or the Educational Program at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, P.O. Box 20070, Houston, TX 77225 or a charity of your choice.