Robert H. Palmer

Robert Howard Palmer, 78, of Muhlenberg Township, died January 15, 2009 in Wyomissing Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

He was the husband of Frances L. (Machemer) Palmer, whom he married April 19, 1958.

Born June 4, 1930 in Reading, he was a son of the late Howard Barton and Maggie (Spatz) Palmer.

Robert was employed as a pressman in the commercial shop at the Reading Eagle Company for 39 years, retiring in 1992.

He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Reading.

Robert served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

He was an honorary life member of Pressman GCIU, Secretary-Treasurer of Pressman Union for 20 years, a Happy Bombadears, and a life member of East Ends Athletic Association, Reading.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are five children: Carolyn J. (Palmer), widow of John R. Missimer of Richland, Lebanon County; Deborah L. (Palmer) Hoverter of Pine Grove; Margaret L. (Palmer), wife of Thomas L. Cochran, Jr. of Wernersville; William R., husband of Jamie M. (Janowski) Palmer of Muhlenberg Township and Virginia A. (Palmer), wife of Joseph R. Bross of Sinking Spring.

There are also ten grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren surviving.

In addition there are three sisters surviving, Grace (Palmer) Conner of Reading, Gloria (Palmer) Wynn and Mildred (Palmer) Schlott, both of Sinking Spring.

Robert was predeceased by a sister, Doris (Palmer) Reaser Yoder.

Services will be Monday at 11 a.m. in Walter R. Christ Funeral Home, Inc., 3300 Kutztown Road, Laureldale. A visitation will be held one hour prior to services. Burial will be in Laureldale Cemetery, Muhlenberg Township.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.

For online condolences, please visit www.christfuneralhome.com.