Edward C. "Ted" Palmer Jr. 1923 - 2009

PALMER, EATON, SUTTON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 7/21/2020 at 03:37:58

Sioux City Journal
23 February 2009

SIOUX CITY -- Edward C. "Ted" Palmer Jr., of rural Sioux City, passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at home.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no services. A celebration of his life will be arranged at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel.

Mr. Palmer was born May 15, 1923, to Edward C. and Dorothy (Eaton) Palmer and was a lifelong area resident except a year working for the Honolulu Rapid Transit. He spent his formative summers working on the Neal Haskell Farms near Laurel, Neb. He was graduated from Central High School in 1941 and Iowa State University in 1948 with an animal husbandry degree and psychology minor with teaching certificate. He married Lorayne Sutton of Belden, Neb., on June 23, 1951, and together they raised three sons.

Alongside his father and brother, he oversaw the family's business operations retiring as treasurer of Palmer & Company, which included the Palmer Candy Co. and the Palmer Fruit Co. He was in charge of personnel and safety for the wholesale fruit and vegetable firm until it closed in 1969. From 1944 until 2005, he was employed by Arrow Stage Lines as a part-time, then full-time driver including the daily route from Sioux City to Norfolk during the 1970s. In 1979, he became Arrow's first full-time safety director. In this capacity he participated on state and federal committees representing the bus industry to establish commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations. Ted took pride in noting he drove in 49 states plus Canada and several million miles without ever having an accident. He was Arrow's Driver of the Year in 1988.

Mr. Palmer volunteered immeasurable hours of community service to the local area. He joined the Civil Defense in 1952, becoming chief of the Police Reserve unit. In 1982, he helped organize the Woodbury County Sheriff's Reserve Posse, where he served as chief until his retirement in 1999. He was named Officer of the Decade in 1995. As a Noble with the Abu Bekr Shriners, he was a charter member of the Provost Marshall Unit serving in each of the officer positions. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason of Tyrian Lodge 508 and in 2005, was recognized by each of the Masonic organizations for over 50 years' service to the fraternity. Mr. Palmer sponsored several children in need of orthopaedic care to the Shriner's Hospitals.

He served on the Sioux City Safety Council as president, the Boy Scout Executive Council, YMCA Board, Sioux City Auditorium Board of Trustees, Sioux City Consistory, two terms on the Woodbury County Extension Council and was a life member of the ISU Alumni Association. He organized security and parking control for the Woodbury County Fair for many years and regularly attended Lawton-Bronson School Board meetings as a patron of the district. He was actively involved in his sons' 4-H club. In 1989 Ted was honored with the Governor's Volunteer Award by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.

His memory will be cherished by his wife, Lorayne "Penny" of the home; sons, Ward (Robin) of Raymore, Mo., Neal (Luann) of Kansas City, Kan., and John (Karen) of Afton, Minn.; 12 grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and his nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Gale; and his brother, William.

Memorials may be directed to Security National Bank, 6th and Pierce St., Sioux City, IA 51102, which will be forwarded on behalf of the Shrine Children's Transportation Fund and other charities.

Ted will be remembered for his love of horses and, most of all, for his always abundant sense of humor which sustained him and everyone who knew him even until his final hours. He was a caring gentleman who generously gave more to his fellow co-workers, volunteers, friends and his family than he ever thought to ask for himself. He will be greatly missed but his positive spirit will endure.