Howard Edwin Palmes III, 86 years old, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 5, 2023.
He was born November 22, 1936, in Tupelo, Mississippi, the only child of Howard Edwin Palmes, Jr., and Frances Lannom Palmes. He grew up in Mobile, Alabama, where he attended Murphy High School. He became vice president of Phi Kappa social fraternity, and he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts of America.
In 1955 Howard enrolled in Alabama Polytechnic Institute, which in 1960 was renamed Auburn University. While studying electrical engineering at Auburn, Howard became a member of Sigma Chi social fraternity, Eta Kappa Nu electrical engineering honorary, Tau Beta Pi engineering honorary, and Pi Tau Sigma Signal Corps honorary. While at Auburn, Howard was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Signal Corps and began working as a co-op student with Southern Bell. Howard graduated on June 3, 1960, from Auburn University with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, just two weeks before the birth of his first daughter.
While he was a co-op student, Howard met the love of his life, (Lillian) Shirley Edwards. On September 12, 1959, Howard and Shirley were married at Wesley United Methodist Church in Meridian, Mississippi. They were happily married one week short of 64 years. They had three daughters: Lydia, Deborah, and Suzanne.
Howard enjoyed a 38-year career with Bell Systems. As the Bell System evolved over the years, Howard worked first for Southern Bell Telephone Company as a junior engineer in Mobile and then Birmingham, Alabama. That was followed by South Central Bell, where Howard worked in the Marketing and Network departments in Huntsville, Alabama, and in Birmingham. Howard then worked for BellSouth, Inc., in the departments of Marketing, Corporate Affairs, Engineering, and Comptrollers. Howard retired in 1994 as Vice President of Networking for BellSouth Corporation, the same year that the first of his two grandsons was born.
While working for the Bell System, Howard both attended and taught at the AT&T Data Communication Training School in Cooperstown, New York. He later attended the Harvard University Advanced Management Program.
During the early years of Howard’s career, he served in the US Army Reserve. He both attended and taught at the US Army Signal School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He subsequently served in the 503rd Signal Battalion in Mobile, the 87th Maneuver Area Command in Birmingham, and in ODES Logistics at the Pentagon. He retired from the military in 1968 as Captain in the US Army Reserve Signal Corps.
It was Howard’s honor to volunteer with Easter Seals of Alabama, where he served first as President of the Birmingham Chapter and then as President of the Alabama Chapter. Howard served on many governing boards of directors. He served as House Chairman of both the Vestavia Country Club and Greystone Country Club in Birmingham. He served as President of Greystone Country Club’s Board of Directors in 2000. Howard also served as President of the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council.
Howard and his family were longtime members of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church in Birmingham, where he served on numerous committees, including serving as Chairman of the Administrative Board. He was a current member of Grace Methodist Church in Scottsboro. Howard enjoyed singing in church choirs, participating in Optimist Club, golfing, hunting, fishing, watching Auburn football, and traveling with his wife Shirley.
Howard was widely respected for his sense of integrity in all areas of his life. He was loved for his kindness and his quick sense of humor.
Howard was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughter, Lydia Palmes of Huntsville; daughter, Deborah Harris (husband Rick) of San Diego, California; daughter, Suzanne Harris (husband, Don) of Scottsboro, Alabama; grandson, Ryan Jesse Harris of Huntsville; and grandson, Jason Howard Harris of Scottsboro, Alabama.
A family graveside service will be held at Pine Crest Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to a favorite charity in memory of Howard Palmes.
