Obituary of Walter "Terry" Palmer

Brooksville, FL - Walter F. “Terry” Palmer, 80, died peacefully in Oak Hill Hospital on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 following a brief illness. Born in Burlington, VT on October 14, 1940, the son of the late Raymond E. “Whitey” and Gertrude M. “Trudy” (Morgan) Palmer. Terry graduated from Burlington High School Class of 1960 and from New England Institute of Anatomy, Science and Embalming (now Mount Ida College) in 1962. Upon graduation, Dad worked alongside his father and mentor, Whitey in the family funeral business, Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home. He helped countless families, including his daughter Susan, in their deepest times of grief in the Burlington and Essex Junction area. Terry served as a member on the Board of Trustees for the Village of Essex Junction and he was a member of the Essex Junction Lions Club. Dad was an avid bowler and bowled in three leagues. One of his greatest achievements was when he bowled a “300” game and he even bowled with the greats Dick Weber and Earl Anthony. He shared this experience with his daughter, Debbie. Terry enjoyed spending time at the family camp on Thompson’s Point in Charlotte, VT, which was built by his late Grandfather, Walter and his father, Whitey. This is where he loved to fish and shared this with each of his children. He found solitude at camp and another of his true talents flowed, his love of art in all mediums. This talent he passed onto his daughter, Karen. In 1981, Dad married the late Brenda J. “BJ” Theriault and they lived in Colchester, VT. Summers on the lake were spent boating, water skiing and swimming; the winters were spent snowmobiling, ice skating and hunting with kids. Dad retired from the family business and moved to Florida with Brenda in 1987. They summered occasionally in Vermont, which Dad always considered his home and wintered in Florida. While in VT, he worked as a security guard for the Shelburne Museum and when in FL, he worked as security guard first for Stroh’s Brewery, then as a security guard for several gated communities where he met several professional athletes. When Dad officially retired from work life, he enjoyed traveling with Brenda. They honeymooned in Bermuda, went on several cruises with their favorite being to Cozumel Mexico; they did a cross-country trip of the United States visiting several monuments, and Indian Reservations (even attended a few Pow-Wow’s). They loved learning about Native American history and they enjoyed experiencing new cultures. A favorite trip of Dad’s was to Oklahoma (another Indian Reservation), which he shared with his son, Paul and daughter, Karen where they slept under the stars. On one return trip to FL, his daughter, Debbie accompanied him and they stopped in West Virginia visiting Patsy Cline’s childhood home and grave. These trips led Dad to another love, Genealogy. He shared this love with each of his children but especially to his son, Dwight. Dad was an avid sports fan. He loved watching Nascar (Dale Earnhardt), the Boston Red Sox, the New York Giants, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. He even attended a game or two. Terry is survived by his children Debra L. “Debbie” Crone and her husband Larry of Barnet, VT; Susan L. (Georges) Faryniarz and her husband Joseph of South Burlington, VT; Dwight K. Palmer and his wife Shawna of Milton, VT; Paul M. Palmer and his wife Colleen of Jericho, VT; Karen E. Cole and her husband Charles of Essex, VT; by Brenda’s children Suzette L. Theriault and her partner Sheila Cota of Brooksville, FL; Richard J. “Rick” Theriault II and his wife Vivian of Dallas, GA; by his thirteen grandchildren Courtney, Rebecca, and Kyle Palmer; Justin, Charles James II, and Andrew Cole; Olivia and Julia Palmer; Brandon Clark; Joseph and Lee Faryniarz; Hannah and Ian Theriault; by his sister Lois (Palmer) Steele of Venice, FL; his brother Robert “Bobby” Palmer and his wife Trish of Burlington, VT; his first wife Judith S. “Judy” (Palmer) Moreau of Essex Junction, VT; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife Brenda; by his parents Whitey and Trudy Palmer; by his grandson Ethan Georges; his sister Pamela “Pam” (Palmer) Hanley; his brother-in-law Michael Hanley; and his brother-in-law Donald Steele. A graveside service will be held on Thursday December 17, 2020 at 11am. at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington, VT A Celebration of Life reception will take place in 2021, when COVID-19 allows. In accordance with his wishes, memorial gifts may be made to either polioeradication.org or your local humane society. For those who wish , online condolences may be made to www.minorfh.com