Philip Maynard Palmer

FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS

Philip Maynard Palmer, 91, a retired US Navy Captain died Wednesday-November 6, 2024, at Clark at Keller Lake. A resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he was born on May 23, 1933, in Lansing, Michigan, the son of Darrell Eugene Palmer and Lila Berniece Lavery Palmer. He graduated from Lansing Eastern High School. He then attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison where he earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering and in Naval Science and received his commission through the Navy ROTC in 1955 and entered active duty on September 20, 1955. In 2006 he was named one of four in the inaugural class of University of Wisconsin/NROTC Distinguished Alumni. He attended the US Naval Postgraduate School and subsequently was awarded an MS degree from The Ohio State University in 1965 while in the Navy.

During his Navy career he commanded a minesweeper and several shore stations, including the Naval Magazine in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines receiving, storing, and delivering munitions to Navy forces for operations during the Vietnam War. From 1979-1982, he commanded the Naval Weapons Station, Earle in Colts Neck, New Jersey. He was nuclear power qualified and served during two combat deployments in USS ENTERPRISE (CVA(N)) 65).

Captain Palmer served in the Navy during the Cold War and Vietnam War eras.

During that one third of a century, the US Navy underwent great changes witnessed and participated in by him. He taught destroyer steam plant engineering to University of Michigan midshipmen in 1958 and then served as a nuclear power qualified officer on the USS ENTERPRISE 10 years later.

As an ensign in 1957 he reported to a WWII destroyer escort with updated air surveillance capabilities but with outdated armament consisting of WWI vintage 3”/50 caliber Navy rifles and analog gunfire control equipment.

Twenty years later, he was the weapons system acquisition manager for the first ship of the AEGIS cruiser/destroyer surface warfare force armed with guided missiles supported by near real time digital displays of the battle space and sophisticated target detection and engagement systems.

His numerous military awards include the following: Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V & Gold Star, Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Navy Unit Citation and National Defense Service Medal.

Captain Palmer retired from the US Navy on May 1, 1984, serving for over 28 years. Subsequently, he was a Vitro Corporation system engineer and consultant until retiring in 1997. He and his late wife Nancy returned to their home state of Michigan in 2006.

In January 2021, Philip came to faith as a believer in Jesus Christ by the Grace of God. He was baptized at 88 years of age on June 13, 2021, in the Calvary Church of Grand Rapids, MI.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Nancy Davis Nebel Palmer of Grand Rapids, originally of Munising, Michigan. He is survived by a son William Arthur Palmer, and William's two former wives Jennifer Wilson of Howard City and Anna Brookhouse Palmer of Grand Rapids; grandsons Brian Philip Palmer, Owen Steven Palmer and Quinn Edward Palmer, granddaughter Lucy Jo Palmer and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and great grandnephews and a great grandniece.

Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service was held in his honor at 11am on Saturday November 23, 2024, at Calvary Church, 707 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 with visitation one hour prior to the service. A luncheon was also served following the service at the church from 12-2pm.

His cremated remains will be interred with military honors in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising, Michigan with those of his deceased wife Nancy on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. A Celebration of Life luncheon will follow at the American Legion Post 131 in Munising, MI.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Clark Retirement Foundation of Grand Rapids, Michigan https://clarkretirement.org/clark-foundation/giving-options/, The University of Wisconsin – Madison NROTC Alumni ScholarshipFund https://www.uwnrotcalumni.org/donate or Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan https://calvarygr.org/next-steps/giving/ .