Peter Cole Palmer, 87, of Charleston, S.C. passed away peacefully in Wallingford on Nov. 5, 2017.
Image by Willie Wax on Wikimedia Commons
Image by Willie Wax on Wikimedia Commons
Born in Aurora, Ill. in 1930, Peter was the son of Kenneth Cole and Janet Watson Palmer. He graduated from West Aurora High School and the University of Illinois in 1952, where he was elected to the Skull and Crescent Honorary Society and served as president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Peter married Joyce Brunnemeyer in 1952 following a long courtship — one that dated back to their days at elementary school. Peter and Joyce enjoyed a loving marriage that lasted 64 years.
He served as a first lieutenant in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He joined IBM in 1954 and, during a 35-year career, held managerial and executive positions in New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong. After his retirement Peter worked as a business consultant to nonprofit enterprises.
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— an obituary from Wallingford Funeral Home
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A longtime resident of Darien, he and Joyce moved to Charleston in 1993 and enjoyed their time there immensely. In 2015 he and Joyce moved to Wallingford to be near his family.
Peter was an avid golfer dating back to his childhood and the influence of his Scottish grandfather, Peter Watson. He was a life member and past president of Woodway Country Club in Darien; served as governor of the Westchester Golf Association of New York; and was a member and governor of the Country Club of Charleston.
Those who knew Peter were graced by his strong business acumen, sharp wit, self-deprecating humor, and unfailing sense of propriety and good manners. Equally adept with a 9-iron, a pair of barbecue tongs or a business strategy, Peter was an unforgettable man. He will be truly missed.
Peter is survived by his sons: Peter Cole Palmer Jr. and Christopher John Palmer; their wives: Patti and Kim; and grandchildren: Katie, Emily, Ian and Jackson. Peter was predeceased by his wife, Joyce, in 2017, and his brother, Thomas Watson Palmer, in 2012.
The family asks that donations be made in Peter’s name to The First Tee youth development organization. Private services will be held.