John F.R. Palmer
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Mr. John F. R. Palmer, a resident of Palm City, Florida, passed away on May 21,2022 at this home. He was born on April 4, 1928, the son of now deceased James R. and Mary E. Palmer, of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Palmer is survived by his beloved wife Josephine (Jo) of 68 years, his son, John Palmer (wife Suzanne Hannay) of Heath, Massachusetts, his daughter Jill Marie Palmer (husband Carroll Doherty) of Washington, D.C., and his grandchildren John, Christopher and Erin Doherty. His sister Dolores Hagerty is a resident of Louisville, Kentucky. Jo and John met and married in Washington, D.C. and resided there for several years.
He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and from Georgetown University Law School with a J.D. degree. Prior to law school, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army and had been trained in U.S. cryptographic codes by the Signal Corps during the Korean conflict. His last duty station was at the White House as a communication officer.
Mr. Palmer was admitted to practice law in Virginia and Illinois. During and after law school, he was associated with a law firm in Virginia, and later served in the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. in the Criminal and Tax Divisions representing the U.S. Government in litigation before various U.S. District Courts, Courts of Appeal, and the U.S. Court of Claims.
Following government service, Mr. Palmer served two major international corporations. He was Tax Counsel for E.I. du Pont de Nemours, Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware, and later Vice President Taxation for Illinois Central Industries (later Whitman Corporation) in Chicago, Illinois. During that time, he was involved in approximately 35 acquisitions and divestitures. He also served as President of the Delaware Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, as a member of the Tax Policy Committee of the Association of American Railroads, and on the Advisory Committee of the national publication Tax Management. Mr. Palmer was a member of the President's Club of Pennsylvania State University, where he and Jo created a Trustee Scholarship Fund for students in need a financial assistance.
The deceased was a parishioner of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Palm City and served as a trustee or a member of parish councils in other parishes. He enjoyed golf, bridge and extensive travel in the U.S. and abroad.
Those wishing to make a memorial donation may consider the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Florida Chapter, P.O. Box 9807, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33310-9807, or the Barstow-Reed Society of Martin Health Foundation.
Friends were invited to gather at Forest Hills Funeral Home in Palm City from 3-5 P.M. on Wednesday May 25, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Palm City at 10 A.M. on Thursday May 26,2022. Entombment to be held privately at Forest Hills Memorial Park Palm City.