He was born October, 25, 1935, in Wayne, Nebraska to William McKinley and Ida Lilly Palmer. Bill graduated from Wayne High School in May of 1953. After graduation he attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, for one and a half years. Bill enlisted for the Army in January of 1955, so he could get the G.I. Bill to finish his college degree. While serving the majority of his time in Germany, the family moved to Longview, Washington.
After returning to the states from Germany, Bill enrolled for studies at Eastern Washington University in March of 1958. There he met and married his wife, Carolyn McCulloch of Spokane, Washington, in June of 1961. Two children were born through this marriage; Emily Kaye Thomas of Marysville, Washington and Daniel William Palmer of North Bend, Washington. After Bill and Carolyn graduated with BA in Education degrees, their first two years of teaching were in Boron, California. After two years, they both obtained jobs with the Everett School District in Everett, Washington. Bill and Carolyn divorced in September of 1992. Bill retired after 30 years of service as a teacher, counselor, activities coordinator, assistant principal, and principal in June of 1993.
Bill is survived by Faun Barton of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ken Palmer of Longview, Washington, and Carol Fegles of Keizer, Oregon. Deceased siblings would include Robert Palmer of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Neil Palmer, Lucille Williams, and Beverly Meadows of Longview, Washington.
While Bill lived in Everett, Washington, he was a member of the Mill Creek Rotary Club, Everett Elks No. 479, and the Everett Exchange Club. Prior to his retirement, Bill was named the planning principal for Heatherwood Middle School, and was the principal of the school for four years before he retired in June of 1993.
A memorial service and burial will be provided by Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery in Everett, Washington. It has been scheduled for May 11, 2023 at 12:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, Bill has requested that donations be made to the Dialysis Center located at St. John’s Medical Center, 1615 Delaware Street in Longview, Washington.
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Dialysis Center at St. John’s Medical Center1615 Delaware Street , Longview, Washington
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