James (Jim) Russell Palmer, III

TYLER — James (Jim) Russell Palmer III, age 80, of Tyler, TX, passed away September 7, 2024, at the Watkins-Logan State Veterans Home. Born in Warrenton, NC on December 26, 1943, Jim spent much of his childhood and youth in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. Jim graduated from Hampton High School, VA in 1961 and enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served for 20 yrs, retiring in 1981 as a Master Sergeant. He proudly served on the Presidential Squadron of Air Force One in the late 60s and early 70s and additionally served in Libya and Korea. In 1965 he married Mary Evelyn Knight, having two children, Steven and Robin. After retiring from the AF and settling in Tyler where he had previously served as an AF recruiter, Jim earned his BS in Technology in 1985 from the University of Texas-Tyler. He was a dedicated member of Marvin UMC where he attended and served until his stroke in 2010.
Although Jim had been living with the debilitating effects of a catastrophic stroke, he lived the last 14 years the best he was able. He was proud of his 7 grandchildren and thrilled by his 8 great-grandchildren (soon to be 9). He was faithfully married to Mary for almost 60 years. For his children, he was their hero and biggest fan. He will be missed but never forgotten and always loved.
Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Knight Palmer of Tyler, TX, Steven (son) and Wendy Palmer of Tool, TX; Robin (daughter) and Jeff Blue of Corpus Christi, TX; grandchildren Christian Fitzgerald (Cody), Elisabeth Palmer, Steven James Palmer (Erica), Rebekah Palmer, Mary-Elizabeth Blue, Rachel Hines (Hayden), and Palmer Blue; great-grandchildren Quinn, Ian, James, Gwendolyn, Carolina, Dustin, Benjamin, and Steven.
A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Marvin Methodist Church on October 12, 2024, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home.