Francis J. Palmer, Jr., 89, passed away at home on Sunday, October 30, 2011 at The Overlook Life Care Community in Charlton.

His wife of 38 years, Janet N. (Storey) Palmer, passed away in 2004. He leaves two sons, Neil F. Palmer and his wife Felisa of Worcester and Jeffrey A. Palmer and his wife Marie of Charlton; a sister, Judith A. Palmer of Worcester; three grandchildren, Neil F. Palmer, Jr. of Worcester, Jillian V. Palmer of Winston Salem, NC and Zoe E. Palmer of Bridgewater; and his companion, Carolyn Wall of Charlton. A daughter, Linda S. Wylie, passed away in 2000. He was born in Worcester, the son of Frank J. and Elsie V. (Arnberg) Palmer and lived in Paxton for 40 years before moving to Charlton in 2006.

Francis was a Seaman First Class in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. He served aboard the USS Camp in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres. He was a supervisor at Norton Company for many years, retiring in 1984. Francis was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Worcester and a 60-year member of the Rufus Putnam Lodge of Masons in Rutland. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Valley of Boston Scottish Rite including the Boston Layfayette Lodge of Perfection, Giles F. Yates Council Princes of Jerusalem, Mount Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix and the Massachusetts Consistory, S.P.R.S. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed golfing, woodworking, photography and spending time with his family.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a calling hour at 1 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 4th in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. Burial will be private and held at a later date at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mass Audubon, Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Road, Princeton, MA 01541 or the American Heart Association , 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.