Wilbur Herbert (“Webb”) Palmer, 80 of Derry, NH died Tuesday September 27, 2016 at the Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH after a period of declining health. Webb was born in Derry on December 10, 1935, a son of the late John M. Palmer, Sr. and Florence (Dougan) Palmer and was a lifelong resident. He was a 1953 graduate of Pinkerton Academy in Derry and was a graduate of the Thompson School of Agriculture in 1955, earned his Bachelor’s degree in agriculture at UNH in 1959, and UNH awarded him his Master’s degree in Agricultural Education in 1969. Webb served three years with the US Marine Corp, and thirty-five years in the US Army Reserves, retiring as LTC. Through the years, he was employed as a Vocational Agriculture teacher at Colebrook Academy, Colebrook, NH and Alvirne High School, Hudson, NH. For a time he was a general science teacher in the Hudson School District. In later years, he was the Vocational Director at Alvirne High School.
For over twenty years Webb worked out the plans, details, and funding to bring to fruition his dream of providing expanded vocational education opportunities for Alvirne’s students through hands-on experiences. He wrote a grant to the State Department of Education; legislation was written and the bill to provide 6.3 million dollars for construction of the vocational center passed in Concord. Construction began in April 1991; the center opened in September 1992, and a formal dedication was held in January 1993. The Town of Hudson by unanimous vote named the facility the Wilbur H. Palmer Vocational Technical Center in honor of his dedication to Hudson’s students.
Throughout his life, Webb served on many boards and committees. He served on the Derry Planning Board, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of Echo Lodge #61 IOOF, where he was a 50 year member, Pinkerton Academy Advisory Committee, President of the Alumni Corporation of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Southern NH Resource, Conservation and Development, and member of the State Technical Committee of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. He also served as an Alvirne School Trustee, Chairperson of Alpha Gamma Rho Educational Foundation at UNH; NH Trustee to Eastern States Exposition, member of the Granite State FFA Foundation, and director of the Electrical Apprenticeship program for Alvirne High School and the NH Department of Education. Webb was a member of St. Mark’s Lodge #44, where he was raised to Master Mason, an Advisor to the Future Farmers of America and a Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor. He was a member of First Parish Congregational Church of East Derry and a long time former member of the First Baptist Church of Derry.
His awards were as numerous as the organizations to which he belonged. Webb was honored as Teacher of the Year twice at Alvirne High School where he was also Honorary FFA Chapter Farmer. In Hudson, he was named Community Citizen of the Year, NH Outstanding Teacher Gold Apple Award, the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and Honorary Citizen of the Year. He was inducted into the Pinkerton Academy Hall of Fame, named NH Vocational Educator of the Year, NH Vocational Special Education Administrator of the Year, and Secondary Vocational Educator of the Year. Other accolades include Honorary State Farmer of the Granite State Association FFA, Honorary American Farmer FFA, National FFA VIP, Granite State FFA Association Award and NH Farm Bureau Young Farmers Award. Webb was recipient of the Andrew L. Felker Memorial Award for leadership in promoting the growth and prosperity of NH Agriculture.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie “Marge” Palmer of Derry, his son, David Palmer and his wife, Paula, of Concord, NH, his daughter, Melissa Polk of Derry, four grandchildren, Danielle and Jessica Palmer, Ashlynn and Rebecca Polk, three step-grandchildren, Keeley, Raenor and Levi, two step-great grandchildren, two nieces and two nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, John M. Palmer, Jr.
Calling hours were held on Monday October 3, 2016 from 4 – 8pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. Private burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, E. Derry. A celebration of Webb’s life, followed by a reception was held on Saturday October 15, 2016 at 1:00pm at Alvirne High School’s gymnasium, Route 102, Hudson, NH.
Memorial donations may be made for scholarships to the Wilbur Palmer Scholarship Fund, c/o Alvirne High School, 200 Derry Rd, Hudson, NH 03051 or NH FFA Foundation, 295 Sheepdavis Rd, Concord, NH 03301, or Educational Foundation of AGR, c/o David Bronson, 5 Vanessa Lane, Stratham, NH 03883.