Doug Palmer

Douglas “Doug” Palmer was born Feb. 23, 1931, in Amarillo, Texas. Doug passed away peacefully at home, in Rochester, Wash., Dec. 23, 2016, with his wife of 57 years, Lil and his daughter, Toni, at his side.

Doug joined the United States Air Force at the age of 19 and took an early discharge at age 29, after his dad had a heart attack.

He was raised in South Carolina and stayed in Washington after marrying Lillie “Lil” Harris. Doug and Lil lived in Glenoma for a few years, then Centralia, where he drove truck for Arden Farms. He went on to drive a beer truck for

Classic Distributors and later, sold insurance for New York Life Insurance Company before working several years at Northwest Hardwoods. Doug loved driving long haul trucks. He drove for three moving companies before driving many years for Marten Trucking, all over the U.S. and Canada. Doug never met a stranger.

Before declining in health, Doug loved to fish and hunt. He was a disabled veteran, because of a service connected

illness.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Fred Palmer; oldest son, Bill; and brother,

F. Clarke Palmer.

He is survived by his wife, Lil at home, brother, Robert (Linda) of Texas, sister-in-law, Peggy Palmer of South Carolina; sons;

Doug of California and Lance (Sarah) of Seattle; daughter, Toni (Bryan) Van Orman of North Dakota; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, at Sticklin Funeral Chapel in Centralia, with a reception to follow.