His parents, Earl and Julia (Reed) Palmer, welcomed their eldest son into the world on May 16, 1929 in New Bedford, MA. Leonard grew up in New Bedford attending local schools and was a 1948 graduate of New Bedford Vocational High School.
In 1943, he met his future wife Virginia “Vickie” Clay while both were working for Penobscot Native Americans at a circus. He married his high school sweetheart on February 4, 1950. Lenny always referred to his wife as “his bride”.
Leonard served his country as a corporal in the United States Army during the Korean War. After his discharge from the Army, he resided with his wife in Mystic, Connecticut where he worked for 35 years as a radiographer with Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut, builders of nuclear submarines. After his retirement, Lenny and Ginny (as “Vickie” was known after high school) settled in Keene in 1998.
Lenny was an accomplished carpenter and furniture maker. He was a 56 year member of the Freemasons. He also was a member of the American Legion Keene Post #4 in Keene, and a founding member of Quiambaug Volunteer Fire Company in Stonington, Connecticut.
He will be greatly missed by many, especially his son Todd; many nieces, nephews and extended family members in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Virginia “Ginny” (Clay) Palmer in 2014; two brothers, Gordon Palmer and Robert Palmer; and his sister, Jean Ouellette. He will also be dearly missed by those whose life he touched as a colleague, mentor, and friend. His kindness, patience, and humor will be missed by all.
A memorial service and celebration of the lives of Leonard and Virginia Palmer will be held a date and time to be announced.
Donations may be made in Mr. Palmer’s memory to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, 12502 Usf Pine Drive, Tampa, FL 33612; or the Masonicare Main Campus, 22 Masonic Avenue, Wallingford CT 06492, as he has requested.
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