Obituaries

John Harry Palmer passed peacefully at home in Lathrop Township on Saturday, May 30th surrounded by family, hospice and loving caregivers. Some of his last words were that he was ready to “go upstairs and meet the Lord, Bernice, and other family members.” Born on March 27, 1930 to Frank Carlton and Gladys (Thompson) Palmer in Clarks Summit, PA, one of seven siblings. At the age of five John was orphaned by the death of his mother and adopted and raised by cousins, Charles Wheeler Palmer and Florence (Mercer) Palmer of Falls Township, Wyoming County.

After his family moved to Clarks Summit, John enlisted in the United States Navy and departed Scranton by train on August 14, 1947 at the youthful age of seventeen. For the next four years Seaman Palmer’s service would see him assigned to Naval stations in Virginia, California, Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan, China and South Korea. He also participated in the Pusan Landings in Korea in June 1950. As a Seaman First Class, in September 1951 he transferred to the United States Air Force. During his Naval service he received the following decorations: Good Conduct Medal, Japanese Occupation Medal, Korean Campaign with three battle stars, United Nations Service Medal, China Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

His seventeen years of service in the United States Air Force and ground transportation career field began at Hamilton Field Air Force Base, California in September 1951. In January 1952 he was transferred to war torn South Korea and served with the 6167th Air Base Group for one year. Following this service his career for the next 16 years included service at Sampson Air Force Base, New York, the US Territory of Hawaii, Stead Air Force Base, Nevada, Aviano Air Base Italy, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota and Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam with the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing. During his service at Aviano Air Base Italy, he was temporarily detailed with humanitarian aid to Skopje, Yugoslavia (today’s Macedonia) in 1963, after an earthquake devastated the city. At Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota he supported a test launch of an early intercontinental Minuteman missile. In 1968 he concluded his twenty-one years of active-duty service with a tour as a USAF Recruiter in Binghamton, NY. During his Air Force service he received the following decorations: Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Air Force Commendation Medal, Bronze Star and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Following his military career John and his wife, Bernice and two sons settled in Lathrop Township. John was employed for a number of years as a wholesale sales representative with Seddon-Lathrop Oil Corporation in Montrose. Never one to be bored, he would be employed in various professions over the years including self-employed bus driver, truck driver, public transportation manager, and bank courier. In the early 1980s he and others at Barnes-Kasson Hospital started what today is known as the Susquehanna Wyoming County Transportation (SWCT). For many years he was employed as a part-time courier for Peoples National Bank.

John was very active in his community and continued to believe in the US Air Force motto of “Service Before Self.” This service included as a Boy Scout Leader, Lathrop Township Supervisor, American Red Cross Volunteer, Squier Cemetery Board Trustee, Trustee at the First Universalist Church of Brooklyn, Trustee of the Pennsylvania Universalist Convention, Volunteer Driver for Meals on Wheels, and Rotary International Student Exchange Program hosts with his wife, Bernice for students from Japan (1972) and New Zealand (1974).

John’s wife of sixty-five years, Bernice (Pratt) Palmer passed before him in 2019.

John is survived by two sons, David (Annie), of Lathrop Township, Kenneth (Sue), of Terrell, North Carolina; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family, including those in New Zealand and Japan.

A memorial service is planned for 11:00am, June 24th 2026 at the First Universalist Church of Brooklyn, PA followed by a luncheon in the church social hall. Private grave side services for family the following day at Squier Cemetery, Lathrop Township.

Memorial contributions may be made to the: John Harry and Bernice Louise Palmer Charitable Endowment at the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, 270 Lake Avenue, Montrose PA, 18801; or Compassionate Care Hospice, 1444 East Lackawanna Avenue, Suite 218, Olyphant, PA 18447.

Arrangements by Daniel K. Regan Funeral Home, 232 South Main Street, Montrose.