Edmond, OK/Georgetown, TX
Major General Leighton R. Palmerton, a long time resident of Sun City, Georgetown, passed away Monday evening, June 28. General Palmerton was born in Rapid City, SD to L. R. and Ruth Palmerton in 1928. He attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Bainbridge, MD for one year prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD in June 1946. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the US Air Force. He earned a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB and the Army War College, Carlisle, PA.
General Palmerton earned his pilot wings in 1951, then reported to Mather AFB, California for duty as a mission pilot with the 3535th Bombardier Training Wing. Following F-84 combat crew training, General Palmerton was stationed in Kadena Air Base, Okinawa with the 80th Fighter Bomber Squadron flying F-84s and F-100s.
In 1966, General Palmerton became vice commander of the 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron in the Republic of Vietnam which was followed by assignment as commander of the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, also in the Republic of Vietnam.
When he returned to the United States, he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, DC. He was transferred in 1972 to the San Antonio Air Logistics Center at Kelly AFB, Texas where he was chief of the Engine Management Division and Logistics Systems Management Division.
In June 1976, he became Vice Commander for the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base, a position he held until his transfer to the Pentagon. In September 1979, he was assigned to Headquarters U. S. Air Force as deputy director for North Atlantic Treaty Organization Airborne (NATO) Warning and Control Systems Matters. And in 1980, appointed Commander, Airborne Early Warning Force, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Belgium.
General Palmerton’s military decorations and awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation emblem. He retired July 1, 1984.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Ann Alderson Palmerton and his sister Reva Kurtz of South Dakota. He is survived by his three sons, Richard Palmerton of Austin, David Palmerton and his wife Lynn of Norman, and Robert Palmerton of Edmond, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 10:00am Friday, July 30 at the First United Methodist Church of Georgetown. A graveside service will follow at 12:00pm at Cook-Walden/ Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville.
To leave condolences for the family on our memorial page please visit http://www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com
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