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 George Melvin Palmer (Jack) was born in August 7, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan, the youngest son of William Mathew (called Mathew) and Iris Bradley Palmer. He was named for his grandfather, George Melvin, of Virginia. Mathew and Iris had two other children: William Mathew Jr. (1921) and Marilyn Ruth (1923).
In 1940, when Jack was 14, his father died of lung cancer at age 46. When World War II broke out, Jack enlisted in the Army Air Force, and earned the rank of Sergeant.
Jack met Emily Laura Olesky near the end of the war, and they were married October 13, 1945 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Detroit. After Jack was honorably discharged from the service, Jack and Emily settled into a home in Detroit. They lost their first child at birth, then had George Melvin, Jr. (Jack) and Richard Kevin (Rick).
Jack’s mother, Iris, died in 1950. In 1954, the family moved to Garden City, a Detroit, Michigan, suburb.
Jack worked as a purchasing agent for Industrial Ovens for many years. He enjoyed his family and liked to travel, visiting historic sites and his father’s family in Charlotte County, Virginia. He was also an avid reader.
In August of 1972, Jack suffered a paralyzing stroke. He was hospitalized, but never regained consciousness. He died September 12, 1972 at the age of 46, the same age his father Mathew died 32 years before. |
