William Rhodes Palmer, III

February 17, 2022

William Rhodes Palmer III of Guilford, CT passed away peacefully on February 17, 2022 at Connecticut Hospice, Branford. He was the husband of the late Sylvia Page Palmer. He was born April 10, 1927 in Oxford, CT, son of the late Edgar Cruger Palmer and Hilda Palmer. William was the President of The Smedley Company of Branford, CT, for 40 years, the oldest crane and rigging company in the United States. He attended Kimball Union University and enjoyed lacrosse and competitive ski jumping. William had many talents and interests, including he was an avid skier, yachtsman and woodworker. He enjoyed playing tennis and golf. His accomplishments include many Bermuda Races, The Cowes and Fastnet Race in England. William was the oldest member of the Quinnipiac Club in New Haven, served as the commodore at Sachem’s Head Yacht Club, and was a member of The Royal Ocean Racing Yacht Club. He travelled extensively through Europe and enjoyed Grouse hunting on the Moors in England. He travelled to ski in Lech, Austria for 30 years and enjoyed skiing in the Alps with his wife, children and grandchildren. William also owned and operated C/Y Cattle Ranch in southern Colorado for 20 years with his wife Sylvia. His passion for the outdoors led to his home in Landgrove, VT where he loved to hunt, fish and cross-country ski on his three hundred acres. William will be remembered as a strong, kind individual who had endless talents and enjoyed all the challenges that life had. For those who met him, they were better for it. William is survived by his son William R. Palmer, IV (Sherri H. Palmer) of Guilford, CT and Weston, VT. He also leaves behind his two granddaughters, Blakeslee Page Palmer and Isabelle Rhodes Palmer, whom he absolutely loved, and two daughter’s-in-law, April Palmer of Westbrook, CT and Katherine Palmer of Guilford, and also his golden retriever Duke who never left his side. He was predeceased by his wife Sylvia Page Palmer and his eldest son James Ludlow Palmer.

A private burial will be held in Oxford, CT. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in William’s name to benefit the Humane Society of the United States, www. humanesociety.org. For online memorial and guestbook, see www.wsclancy. com.