Bob was born the first of six children to James and Helen Palmer on July 8th 1929 in Stanton Texas. He lived there till 1934 when his parents moved to Oklahoma to find work and stay with family. While there he stayed and worked with his uncle on their Dairy farm where he learned his love of animals and his hard work ethics. In 1940 he moved with his parents to Ridgecrest Ca. where he attended high school, played baseball and football and continued his love of animals, participating in FFA. In 1946 he moved to Bakersfield Ca. with his family as his father followed work, there he attended Bakersfield College studying Animal husbandry. While living there he was playing football in the street where he not only fell for his future wife but actually tackled her. They fell in love and dated for 2 yrs and until Bob left school in 1949 to marry Betty and raise a family. When Bob left school he followed in his father’s footsteps and worked in construction. Over the years Bob followed the trade working as a union carpenter for 36 years. While working on the Auburn Dam project, Bob settled his family in the Auburn area where he decided to stay after retiring. After retiring Bob and Betty bought and operated the Smoke Shop on Lincoln way for 12 years before selling it and opening the 160 Club on Cleveland Ave. Bob love running the morning shift there where he was able to talk sports with all the old timers and voice his opinion about his beloved 49ers.
As I write this about my father in-law I cannot help thinking what a great honor is was to know this man, he may have not always been politically correct but he truly was a great hard working American that spoke his mind and never thought twice about helping someone.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 63 Yrs. Betty Palmer; his brothers Ron, Tom and Joe Palmer, his sister-in-law, Pauline Carr and her husband Bill and their children, Mike and Pam; his daughter, Claudia Cheeseman her husband, Don and her two children, Jason Rogers and Cherity Rockholt; son-in-law, Joe Rockholt and great-grandchildren: Laura, Annett, Ian, Joey, and Caden; son, Jimmy Palmer, grandchildren: Laurie, Linnette, Natalie, Danielle and Jared; and great-grandchildren: Brandon, Cole, Jackson, Destiny and Alexis; son, Kenny Palmer; daughter-in-law, Brenda and grandchildren: Evan, Krista, Brett, Nicole and Cameron; and niece, Terry Phillips. Bob is preceded in death by his parent's, James and Helen; his brother, Kenneth; sister, Helen; sister-in-law, Nellie and her husband, Robert and grandchild, Korban.
A visitation will be held at Chapel of the Hills on Friday, February 10, 2012 from 5 to 8 PM. Funeral services will be held at Chapel of the Hills on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 1 PM.
Arrangements under the direction of Chapel of the Hills, Auburn, CA.
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