Joseph H. Palmer

Joseph Howard Palmer, age 83, of Fayetteville, North Carolina died at home on Saturday, October 1, 2022 surrounded by his family after a brief illness. He married his beloved wife Shirley Ann Pollard Palmer on February 1, 1958 in Washington, D.C. Joe was born March 4, 1939 in Missouri, son of Joseph Howard Palmer, Sr. and Jewell Pauline Hathman Palmer. He attended Harrisburg School and Hickman High School of Columbia, MO.

In 1956 he joined the Navy and retired as Master Chief in 1987. During his thirty-one and a half years of service in the Navy he served as an air traffic controller on the Kitty Hawk, Ticonderoga, Forrestal, and Saratoga. He was stationed at Bainbridge, MD; Washington DC; Midway Island; Coronado, CA; Atlanta, GA; Albany, GA; Bermuda; Oceana, VA; Norfork, VA. He served during the Vietnam War. After retirement he bought a service station, drove cross country as an independent truck driver and delivered medical supplies in the North Carolina area.

He was initiated into Freemasonry on the 12th of April, 2007 in Lebanon Lodge 391 and became a Master Mason on 23rd of August, 2007. Later becoming a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 8 in Fayetteville, NC. He later became a Sudan Shriner and was a Past President of Hope Mills Shrine Club. He was further honored in life by becoming a member of the Royal Order of Jesters Court No. 145. He also served as President and managed the Retired Military Association. He was also Regional President of the Fleet Reserve. Joe enjoyed playing golf, fishing, traveling, watching all sports and he was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan.

He is survived by his loving wife Shirley; daughters, Beverly Mourlot (Robert) of Fayetteville, NC, Diane Palmer of Charlotte, NC, Linda Palmer Barnett (Joe) of New Bern, NC, Terri Crudup (Chris) of Ft. Myers, FL; grandchildren, Chris Inman, Joey Glover, Courtney Gardiner, Brittany Flannery, Jordan Huggins, Emma Jean Crudup and Katherine Crudup; great-grandchildren, Chandler and Preston Inman, Remington and Marleigh Huggins, Bry and Brody Vandiford, and Brayden, Jackson and Jet Flannery. He is also survived by his half-sister Deborah Giambalvo; sisters-in-law, Sheila Palmer and Debra Maiden and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in passing by his parents, half-brothers, Steven Palmer and Gary Maiden; and his half-sister, Karen Dunn.

Special thanks from the family going to Home Instead Senior Care and Cape Fear Valley Homecare and Hospice.

A visitation with family & friends for Joseph will be held Friday, October 7, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM at Reeves Funeral Home of Hope Mills, North Carolina. A funeral service with masonic rites will occur Friday, October 7, 2022 at 2:00 PM in the Reeves Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with military honors will occur Friday, October 7, 2022 at 3:00 PM at Lafayette Memorial Park, 2301 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301.

Contributions in Joseph's memory may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/give/158250/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwkOqZBhDNARIsAACsbfLS9TYKSvYvrAUCclLHsHAAr4pmED2WgLDMfSZ9HECKPMYEHacFBv4aAkrAEALw_wcB#!/donation/checkout?recurring=1&c_src=google&c_src2=general.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reevesfunerals.com for the Palmer family.