Retired Lieutenant Colonel Douglas C. Palmer of Huntsville, AL passed away at 11:11 PM April 1, 2024 surrounded by his wife and children.
Doug was born June 22, 1954 in Hornell, NY to the late Robert and Ella May (Woodard) Palmer. He was a 1972 graduate of Southside High School in Elmira, NY where he met his wife Fay (Sue Pierce) Palmer. He went on to graduate from the US Military Academy at West Point, class of 1978. After marrying at the West Point Cadet Chapel, he embarked on a successful Army career spanning 20 years.
His military tours led him and his family to set up roots in various places throughout his service both domestically and abroad; including Alabama, Texas, Germany, Rhode Island, and Kansas while sharing countless road trip adventures across Europe and the U.S. with his family.
After his 2nd assignment in Germany, Doug attended the US Naval War College in Rhode Island, receiving a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He ultimately retired from the military in Leavenworth, Kansas. He took pride in receiving the honor of Adjunct Professor of the Year in statistics at Park College, before settling back in Madison, Alabama to continue his career as a mechanical engineer, systems engineer and program manager.
His quick wit and heavy sarcasm were always great for a laugh and his uncanny ability to recall a never ending well of ‘dad jokes’ at a moment’s notice will be tough to rival. Doug will be greatly missed by Fay, son Jordan (Robin) and daughter Lauren (David); his sister Carol Troy and two brothers, Bill (Carine) Palmer and Andy (Heather) Palmer; grandchildren Whitley, Olivia, and Reese Palmer and Holton Hooks, along with his nieces and nephews.
He was very proud to be a grandfather to his 4 grandchildren and was looking forward to welcoming two more on the way – but will surely be watching out for them from Heaven.
Services will be held late summer with his family in his home town of Elmira, New York. He will be given military honors and interred at Woodlawn National Cemetery located in Elmira. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either organization below in Doug’s memory:
ASPCA – as an avid animal lover, Doug always said if he wasn’t in the military, he would have loved to be a veterinarian. For over 18 years, it was hard to find him without his little fluffball dog ‘P.C.’
Travis Mills Foundation – an organization that supports post-911 recalibrated veterans and their families through various programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical and emotional obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation.
