Obituary of Joseph Watkins Palmer,Jr.

Joseph “Joe” Watkins Palmer, Jr., 94, of Bedford, NY died Sunday, December 12, 2021 at Northern Westchester Hospital.

Joe was born on November 3, 1927 in Port Chester, NY to the late Joseph W. Palmer, Sr. and Gladys Keller Palmer. He grew up in Mamaroneck and graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1946. He joined the U.S. Marines after high school and served for two years.

After the Marines, Joe moved to Bedford and worked as an electrician while studying to join the police force. In May 1953, he joined the Bedford Police Department and then married Jean Carlson in June. He also became a volunteer firefighter in the Bedford Village Fire Department that same year. He worked for the Bedford Police Department for 37 years, retiring as a Sergeant, and remained a member of the Bedford Village Fire Department for 68 years.

He was a member of Masonic Lodge #708, Mt. Kisco, NY for over 60 years. He was an avid fisherman and golfer, and a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees.

Joe is the beloved husband of Jean Carlson Palmer for 68 years, and the loving father of Richard Palmer of Goldens Bridge (Elizabeth Corwin) and Abigail Palmer Groves of Wake Forest, NC (Jeffrey Groves). He is the devoted grandfather of Katherine and Margaret Groves and Andrew (AJ) Palmer, and step-grandfather of Emerson and Spencer. He is also survived by his sisters, Adelaide Stark of Boca Raton, FL, and Barbara Bialy of Toms River, NJ, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be celebrated at Bedford Presbyterian Church on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bedford Village Fire Department (https://www.bedfordfire.com, 34 Village Green, Bedford, NY 10506) or the Bedford Presbyterian Church (https://bedfordpreschurch.org, 44 Village Green, Bedford, NY 10506).