Richard Andrew Palmer
1949-2020
Richard Andrew Palmer (Dick) passed into heaven on February 21, 2020 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia on April 27, 1949 to William Davis Palmer and Frances Louise Williams Palmer.
Living with his family in Atlanta, Dallas, and Baltimore, Richard graduated from Catonsville High School in Baltimore County. He graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1972 with a BS degree in Physics. Richard also earned a Masters Degree from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in Electrical Engineering. As a Military Intelligence Officer, Richard was stationed in Germany, South Korea, and at various locations in the United States.
Richard married the former Vicky Lynn Marcotte in 1980. Together they had eight children.
After his military career, Richard was a researcher at the US Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab in Hanover, New Hampshire. He also established a small regional farm in Vermont, and performed technical and computer work in South Carolina, before moving to Oklahoma to help take care of family.
Early in life, he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior. He considered this the most important thing he ever did.
Richard was actively involved in volunteer work with the Greenville, South Carolina Down Syndrome Buddy Walk, the Military Officers Association of America (at both state and local levels), and the Gideons International (at both state and local levels).
Richard is survived by his wife, eight children, three grandchildren, and his siblings Dorothy Palmer Young, Walter Palmer, Thomas Palmer, Raymond Palmer – aka Athelstan, and Virginia Palmer King, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends who loved him. He was predeceased by his parents.
Donations can be made in his honor to The Gideons International ( https://www.gideons.org/donate ), or The National Down Syndrome Society ( https://www.ndss.org/donate )
Public visitation will be held Saturday, February 29th from 2-6 p.m. and Sunday, March 1st from 2-6 p.m. at Matthews Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 2, 2020 at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery Edmond, OK.