Thomas Paul Palmer Sr.

Thomas P. Palmer, Sr. of Riverview, Florida, passed away on Sunday, July 13 in Tampa, Florida at the age of 89 years. He was born to George A and Lillian (Gore) Palmer on October 7, 1924 in Caseyville Township, Illinois.

Tom proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II and was a former P.O.W. He served with the 13th Armored Division in Europe and was awarded the Bronze Star. After leaving the Army, he married his wife of 52 years, Pansy and began a 33-year career as a millwright and electrician with Swift & Co. They lived in Collinsville and later in Highland, Illinois. In 1969, they moved to Salem, Missouri as proprietors of a rural general store and gas station. They moved to Granite City, Illinois in 1980, where he continued work as an electrician until his retirement. Upon his wife’s passing in 1998, he relocated to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, to be nearer his son's family, then followed to San Antonio, Texas and ultimately to Riverview, Florida in 2005. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, and was an avid baseball fan, always rooting for his hometown team. He was a member of the American Legion, Moose Lodge, and the Catholic Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife Pansy (Laswell) Palmer, two brothers, Durance and Fred, and a sister, Lillian.

Surviving are his son, Thomas P. Palmer, Jr. and wife Cathy of Riverview, Florida; a granddaughter, Kendall (Palmer) Neely, of Wilmington, North Carolina; two great grandchildren, Eden and Caleb; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. Condolences may also be expressed online at www.lakeviewfuneralhm.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 27, 2014 at Lake View Funeral Home, Fairview Heights, Illinois.

Funeral: Services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 28, 2014 at the funeral home with Father Comerford officiating. Interment will follow in Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Illinois.