Gary H. Palm, 88, of Mount Vernon, passed away surrounded by his family on April 11 at the Ohio Eastern Star Home. He was born March 26, 1936, the youngest and last surviving of six children born to Edwin G. and Mabel B. (Piper) Palm.
On Oct. 13, 1956, Gary married his high school sweetheart, Darlene L. Billick. In 1959 Gary and Darlene made their way to Ohio to help open a chain of retail stores owned by Gary’s uncle. After short stays in Marion, Lima and Zanesville, the Palms came to Mount Vernon where Gary was the manager of the Xtra Value store located on the southside of Mount Vernon. When the store was sold, Gary was offered a position in another town. Yet, he decided not to go as he and Darlene had decided they wanted to raise their family in Mount Vernon, a place they would call home for over 60 years. Gary worked a variety of jobs, including selling insurance and as a traveling salesman, before becoming the building supervisor at Gay St. United Methodist Church, a position he would hold for 31 years.
Gary was active in the community. He was a member of the Aladdin Temple Shriners, Knights Templar and a 50-yr. member of Mt. Zion Masonic Lodge #9 where he served as worshipful master in 1974. He was an advisor for the DeMolay Boys and receive the Grand Cross of Color from the Rainbow Girls. He served as president of the Lamb Park Little League and for 10 yrs. he was a volunteer with Hospice of Knox County.
Gary took great pride in everything he did from saving the church money by doing improvement projects himself, to helping a neighbor install plumbing; from painting a house to putting on a new roof; from assembling a play set for a friend’s grandson to installing a fence around a relative’s swimming pool. There was no task too big or too small for him to tackle. He said there was only one way to do things, the “right” way and believed you had to have the “right” tools to do the job right.
The son of a carpenter, Gary always enjoyed working with wood and found his second calling when he started volunteering for HopeNow Furniture Bank. There, he would help make wooden furniture for those in need and old-fashioned wooden toys to raise funds for the organization. Gary loved working outside tending to his lawn and flower beds. He had a green thumb, great knowledge of plants and seemed happiest when he was on his knees weeding.
Gary is survived by his daughter, Pam Palm of Howard; his son, Brian (Jacinda) Palm of Mount Vernon; three grandchildren, Sarah Palm of Denver, CO.; Abbi (Dakota Moss) Palm of Mount Vernon; and Bradin Palm of Mount Vernon; along with many nieces, nephews and many, many close friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 67 years, Darlene; his brothers, Robert, Donald, Eugene and Dale Palm; and a sister, Joan Kenders, of Pennsylvania.
The family wishes to thank the Rose Neighborhood at the Ohio Eastern Star home for their excellent care during Gary’s three-month stay; and to Gentiva Hospice for their care of Gary at home.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 25, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Snyder Funeral Home – Lasater Chapel, 11337 Upper Gilchrist Rd., Mount Vernon where a Celebration of Life will begin at 5:00 p.m. A reception will immediately follow in the funeral home’s community room.
Memorial contributions can be made to HopeNow Furniture Bank, P.O. Box 627, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
To express a condolence to the Palm family, please visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home – Lasater Chapel
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
