Charles A. Palmer

Funeral services for Charles A. Palmer age 79 of Rensselaer Falls will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday January 17, 2015 at the Fox & Murray Funeral Home with Rev. Jenni Piatt officiating. Burial will be at a later date in the Rensselaer Falls Cemetery. Family and friends will gather at the RF Fire Hall following the service.

Calling hours will be held also on Saturday (Jan 17th) from 12:00pm until the time of the service. Mr. Palmer passed away on December 24, 2014 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Surviving is his wife of 58 years Patricia; a son Charles “Allen” Palmer II of Castorland NY; five daughters Laurie Schoenhut & her husband Frederick of Mill Neck NY, Cheryl Wood & her husband Charles of Fayetteville NY, Cynthia Elberty & her husband Daniel of Dryden NY, Brenda Johnson & her fiancée Ronald Alcantara of Amenia NY and Anna Boprey Stanko & her husband Dave of Ballston Spa NY; three brothers Lynn Palmer & his wife Connie, Claude Palmer & his wife Janet, Harold Palmer & his wife Gail; a sister-in-law Nettie Palmer all of Rensselaer Falls; grandchildren Sarah, Frederick, Zachary and Christopher Schoenhut, David and Michael (Jessica) Wood, Catherine and Maxwell Elberty, Adam Alexander, Elizabeth, Victoria, Noah, Hope and Hannah Johnson, Brittany, Jake, Camryn and Haley Palmer, Emily and Jodi Thompson and great-grandchildren Lucas Watson and Weston Johnson. A brother Simeon “Al” Palmer predeceased him.

Charles was born on July 20, 1935 in Ogdensburg NY, a son of the late Simeon & Sara (Rayburn) Palmer. He graduated from Canton High School and continued his education at SUNY Canton ATC where he earned a milk testing certificate. He later married Patricia M. Stafford on August 24, 1956 at the Russell Methodist Church.

Charles greatly enjoyed the company of his brothers who all lived nearby. He enjoyed reminiscing about his employment on the St Lawrence Seaway construction project from start to finish in the 50's, and then the S.Colton dam project. His most recent employment was as a buttermaker and lab tech with DairyLea, Aiello and Losurdo Cheese in Heuvelton, NY. He retired in 1998. He was a former trustee of the Rensselaer Falls United Methodist Church, a member of the Rensselaer Falls Tree Restoration Project, the Seaway Valley Antique Car Club, past Boy Scout Troop leader, Lay leader for Rensselaer Falls Methodist Church, a 55 year member of the Masonic Lodge, and most recently the St Lawrence 111 of Canton and Past Master of Fellowship 749 in Rensselaer Falls. Charles was also a member of the Rensselaer Falls Volunteer Fire Department for over 40 years.

He enjoyed raising and watching birds. He raised many breeds of fancy pigeons and was a long-time member of the Purple Martin Conservation Association. In 2014, Charles provided nesting sites for an active colony of 34 breeding pairs, and was very proud of this accomplishment.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Heuvelton United Methodist Church, 31 Lisbon St, Heuvelton, NY 13654 or Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, US Hwy 11, Potsdam, NY 13676 or the Rensselaer Falls Fire Department, 424 Rensselaer Street, Rensselaer Falls, NY 13680. Condolences can also be shared online at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com