RICHARD G. “DICK” PALMER

1929-2017

Richard Glenn “Dick” Palmer left this life on Friday, January 13, 2017. Born in Columbus, OH on July 1, 1929, Dick lived a long life, full of joyful enthusiasm. After graduating from The Ohio State University with his accounting degree, Dick made his way to Houston where he promptly met and fell in love with the love of his life, Ruth Grogan. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary this past June.

After retirement from his life as a CPA, Dick began Phase 2 of his life. He joined the Service Corp at Houston Methodist Hospital where he served as a volunteer for many years, usually at the Dunn information desk. Dick enjoyed the interactions he had with patients and visitors to the hospital and thought of the Methodist Volunteer Services Department as part of his family. In addition to that, he served for many years as an usher at the early service each Sunday at First United Methodist Church Houston’s Downtown Campus. He was truly a friend to all who walked in the doors at church.

Dick and Ruth loved to travel. Together they traversed the world and one of their favorite means of travel was cruising. River cruises in Europe, transatlantic cruises, freighter cruises – he loved them all! Their last cruise was a 30 day trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen in 2015.

Dick is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth, his daughter Cheryl Lynn and her husband Jay O’Brien, his son Thomas Earl and his wife Valerie and various nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jimmy and his wife Colleen and their son Michael, and his daughter-in-law Ann Echols Palmer.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, January 22, 2017 in the Sanctuary at First United Methodist Church Houston Downtown, 1320 Main Street. Visitation with the family will begin at 12:30pm (a light lunch will be served) followed by the service at 2:00pm. Donations may be made in Dick’s memory to the Wesley Community Center Houston (1410 Lee St, Houston, TX 77009) or to First United Methodist Church Houston (1320 Main, Houston, TX 77002).

The family wishes to give special thanks to the caring staff at Houston Hospice who made Dick’s final days calm and peaceful.