Person:Richard Palmer (21)

Richard's name on his birth certificate is probably Richard Midkiff WOOLLEY. I do not know what his military records show, but he has probably always used Richard Midkiff PALMER.

Uncle Dick tells this story of the summer of 1938 - he and the family were camping on the VA side of the Potomac river. His mother and step-father, Ray, would row across the river to work each day, leaving the kids with the maid, Josie. One day all the kids were playing on the top of the hill when Ray came after them - it was raining & the wind was blowing & Ray gathered up the kids, Took them back to camp, let them pack some clothes, piled them in the row boat & headed for the Washington, DC shore. The river was rising so fast the float where the boats tied up could be seen rising by the minute. As they precariously paddled across the river dead cows, horses & pigs floated past. It was quite a trip. Once they reached the shore, they headed for grandma's house and kept having to change streets & direction due to the downed trees.

Later talking to Margy, she said she thought the hurricane was 1936 and that Ray crossed the river 4 times - once to get the girls and once for the boys. Also she and Jeanne were making plum preserves that day in camp when the storm started & Dick & Jimmy were off in the hills.

1930 census-undated-Dwelling 507 family 43 shows Carlton Van Valkinberg, head, rents for $48.75, has radio, age 57, married at 38, he and his parents are born in MN, he is an architect and a verteran of the World War. Th?????, wife, age 57, married at 38, born Hamburg, Germany, her parents are born Germany, Richard M Wooley, son, age 6, born DC, father born NE, mother born PA.

1940 census-Richard; 17; school H2; DC

1949-4 Jun-Commencement exercises of the University of Maryland; College of Business & Public Administration; Bachelor of Science; presented by Dean J F Pyle - Richard Midkiff Palmer of MD

1951-"12 Jan 1951-yesterday received announcement from Ms. Lucile Willcocks Murray that her daughter Margaret Holley was married to Richard Midkiff Palmer on the first of January 1951 at Allentown, Penna"

2012-Uncle Dick died 4 Jul 2012 at 4:30am in CT Obituary The Lakeville Journal Thursday, 12 July 2012: Richard M Palmer, 89, of Bittersweet Dr., died at home in Danbury on 4 Jul 2012 of natural causes.

Dick was born on 30 Dec 1922 in Washington, DC and grew up there with his brother and two sisters. He attended John Quincy Adams Elementary School and Central High School and graduated from the University of Maryalnd.

He joined the Navy in 1943 and served on the destroyer Remey in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. When he returned from service to his country, he married Margaret Holley Murray in 1951.

In 1954 the family moved to Lakeville. Dick worked as a purchasing agent at Pfzer in North Canaan. He sang in the choir at the Salisbury Congregational church, coached Little League baseball with his brother Jim, and sailed with the Wononscopomuc Sailing Club. He was a founding member of the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, an avid chess player and an active 4-H advisor.

In 1974 he moved to Danbury where he met his wife, Constance, playing bridge. Square dancing, traveling, racing horses (trotters) and spending time with numberous grandchildren and great-grandchildren were some of the activities he enjoyed with Connie.

Dick worked as an administrator for Western Connecticut State College and for the connecticut Department of Mental Retardation, where he was instrumental in setting up the 704 House.

Dick was a true patriot, and was known for his stories, stong opinions, positive attitude and realistic approach to life.

In addition to his wife Constance, he is survivied by his daughter, Elizabeth; three sons, Andy, Bruce and Brad; seven grandchildren, David, Ben, Warren, John, Nancy, Renee and Roland; one great-grandson, Colton; three stepchildren, Debi, Carol and David; 10 step-grandchildren, Adam, Jason, Matthew, Sharon, Silas, Anavah, Talitaha, Simchah, Diynah and Sophia; and 9 step-great-grandchildren, Taylor, Trent, Seth, Eben, Joey, Daniel, Emet, Mickey, and Jacob; and his sister, Margy Tarrant.

He was predeceased by his brother, James W Palmer and his sister Jeanne M Lathrop.

According to his wishes, there will be memorial service.