James Palmer

Mr. James Robert "Jim" Palmer went home to be with the Lord on February 17, 2014 at the Veteran's Administration Hospital at Wade Park in Cleveland, Ohio after a long illness. He was 71 years old.

Services will be held Saturday, February 22, 2014 at the West Hill Baptist Church at 2241 Mechanicsburg Road, Wooster, Ohio 44691. Calling hours will be held 1-3 p.m. and the funeral service will be at 3 p.m.

A memorial service will be held in Bridgeport, W.VA at Evangel Baptist Church on Monday, February 24 at 12 p.m. with calling hours held an hour prior, the interment immediately following the service at Bridgeport Cemetery.

James served six years in the United States Air Force as a member of the USAF Security Service, the predecessor to the modern day USAF Special Operations Wing. Wounded in an insurgent attack while based at Incirlik Air Force base in Turkey, he was awarded the Purple Heart, as well as various other awards for his service during the Viet Nam war. He was honorably discharged in 1967.

Upon leaving the military, James went to work for United Telephone of Ohio, which eventually became Sprint-United Telephone where he held many positions rising to the position of Director of Customer Relations. During this time he served on many boards to include the State of Ohio Governor's Council on Economic Development, Eastern Ohio Development Council and as the Chairman of the Wayne County Ohio Development Council and served on the Wayne County Justice Board. He was also a founding starter of the Telephony and Cable TV vocational education program at the Wayne County Schools Career Center.

While working for Sprint in Mansfield, Jim also pursued one of his lifelong dreams that he started in the military and became a radio personality on WCLW radio. His fifties and sixties show was very popular and he continued it for many years as well as other shows covering the military as well as local and national news events.

Jim was also very active in giving back to the community. He was a member of the Lion's club, a service organization known for its humanitarian activities and the fight against blindness. Jim served for many years in various positions at the club, district and state level and won many awards such as the Melvin Jones Fellow award for humanitarian activities while raising money and working to fight blindness. He was a member of the Lucas, Ohio Lions club and a charter member of the Wooster-Madisonburg Lions club. Jim also was actively involved for many years in the Fraternal Order of Police Associates where he served in many positions actively raising money for Police charities. Jim was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Association, The Kentucky Colonels and the National Rifle Association at the Golden Eagle level where he worked tirelessly to protect our second amendment rights to keep and bear arms. Jim was also actively involved in his church where he ministered to many different groups. Over the years he worked with all age groups in the church. Jim was also a lover of animals and had rescued dogs and cats.
Jim is survived by his wife Fonda (Hall) Palmer, his son Robert (Rachel) Palmer and grandchildren Connor and Matthew Palmer all of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by his brother John Palmer and his family of Bridgeport, West Virginia. Jim was preceded in death by his father and mother Garnett and Enoch Palmer.