John D. Harmer

John D. Harmer, born May 16, 1931, the youngest of three sons of Arnold O. and Rose C. Harmer, passed peacefully into eternity Tuesday, February 24, 2026. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife of 57 years, Vera M. Palmer Harmer, his brother Roland, and his brother Richard and sister-in-law Pauline.

John graduated from Columbus West High School in 1951 and was drafted into the Army. He completed boot camp at Fort Monmouth and was deployed to Korea in May 1952. There, he served with the Armed Forces Korea Network at radio station “Kilroy” until his repatriation in September 1953 as a corporal. For valor beyond the call of duty during his service in Korea, he was awarded the Bronze Star.

Upon returning home, John blended his love of electronics and broadcasting into civilian life. From 1953 to 1955, he worked as a projection operator at several small film theaters on the Columbus hilltop and briefly at WOSU radio. He later owned and operated “Capital City Sound Recording,” while simultaneously serving part-time in the Ohio Army National Guard beginning in 1955. After graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1959 as a Second Lieutenant, he steadily rose through the ranks to Captain. In early 1968, he entered full-time Guard service, ultimately retiring in June 1984 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Following his military retirement, John returned to WOSU—this time in television—initially for a one-year assignment operating the old transmitter until the new transmitter was installed and operational. Recognizing his exceptional technical skill, the station retained him for ten years before he retired for the final time.

John married the love of his life, Vera M. Palmer, on May 23, 1959. Together they raised two sons, Timothy (Sharon Cahours) and Bradley. He is survived by his sons; five grandchildren: Kyle (Sarah), Craig (Anna), Chelsie, Bradley II (Avery), and Blake (Claire); and six great-grandchildren: Macy, Zoe, Summer, Bradley III, Jet, and Agustus. He is also survived by three nieces and one nephew.

In retirement, John and Vera enjoyed traveling throughout the South and West visiting friends and relatives. Somewhere along the way, the city boy “turned cowboy,” adopting western attire that became as much a trademark as his military uniform.

John had been an amateur radio operator since high school and maintained lifelong passion for the hobby. He organized a group of local operators affectionately known as the “Old Fogies,” arranging lunches, guest speakers, and backstage tours of notable Ohio landmarks including the Ohio Theatre, LeVeque Tower, Ohio Stadium, Nationwide Arena, and the WLW transmitter site. If it involved broadcasting, engineering, or history, John wanted to see how it worked.

He volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels to elderly shut-ins. A lifelong tinkerer, John could usually be found in his basement workshop adjusting radio equipment, rebuilding projectors, or restoring power supplies and transmitters.

He was a voracious reader whose bookshelves bore witness to his thoughtful engagement—volumes marked with handwritten reflections tucked into dozens of bookmarked pages.

Above all, John’s priorities were God, family, and country. John was raised in a Christian home, he embraced his faith in Christ in early adulthood and lived it wholeheartedly. John and Vera raised their family in Immanuel Baptist Church, where he taught Bible classes, served as a deacon, led worship, sang in the choir, and directed music. He led his family not with loud display, but with steady conviction and quiet resolve.

His knowledge and love of American military history were unmatched. Conversations at family gatherings often became impromptu lessons on service and sacrifice

John was never ashamed of his faith in God or his love for his country. He lived both boldly, faithfully, and without apology.

His legacy of service, devotion, intellect, humor, and steadfast conviction lives on in the generations who follow him.

A visitation time will be held on Sunday, March 1, 2026 from 3-5 pm and Monday, March 2, 2026 from 10:30-11:30 am at Schoedinger Grove City 4242 Hoover Rd. where his service will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 11:30 am with Pastor Rob Stroup, officiating. Interment will take place at Sunset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project 4899 Belfort Road Suite 300 Jacksonville, FL 32256.