David H “Dave” Palmer Sr., age 90, passed peacefully Friday, March 1, 2024 at his home in Litchfield, NH with his beloved wife Elizabeth “Betty” (Johnson) Palmer with whom he shared 67 years of marriage at his side. He was born on February 2, 1934 in Melrose, MA a son of Harry Palmer and Ida (Harris) Palmer. He was raised in Lynnfield, MA and graduated from Wakefield High School. Dave and Betty lived and raised their family in Lynnfield MA; Westford, MA; Concord, CA; Freedom, NH; Wolfeboro, NH; and retired in Litchfield, NH.
Dave was an Army Veteran serving in Washington State and in Germany during the Korean War. He worked for Worthen’s Food Market in Lynnfield, MA Borden Foods in Boston, MA Northern CA, and the Pacific Northwest before returning to New England where he established Palmer’s Country Plaza, his own family run grocery store in Freedom, NH. Later purchased and operated Grey Shingles Vacation Retreat in Wolfeboro, NH before retiring to Litchfield.
He leaves behind his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” (Johnson) Palmer, two sons, David Palmer Jr., his partner Beverly Davis, of Henniker, NH; Paul Palmer, his fiancé, Jessica Healey, of Freedom, NH; two daughters, Sharon (Palmer) Lloy, her husband Dewey Lloy of Raymond, ME; Sandra (Palmer) Bryant, and her husband Thomas Bryant of Londonderry, NH. He is also survived by his two sisters, Ruthie (Palmer) McLellan, her husband Ernie McLellan, and Evelyn Palmer; seven grandchildren, Timothy Palmer, his fiancé Jessica Thoresen, Alicia Palmer, her partner Nick Colfels, Nicole (Lloy) Brooks, her husband Steven Brooks, Katelyn Lloy, her partner Peter Pompeo, Hannah (Lloy) Turcotte, her husband Ryan Turcotte, Addison Bryant, Tannon Bryant and three great grandchildren, Nola Brooks, Isla Brooks, Rowen Turcotte; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings Vera Breen, and Elmer Palmer; also, his in laws, Mabel Wallace, Norman Johnson, Dennis Johnson, and Robert Johnson.
A private family graveside service will be held in the near future. A time and place have yet to be determined.