ANDERSON, Ind. —
Mildred Orr Palmer passed away on March 14, 2013, at home.
She was born Aug. 26, 1921, in St. Joseph, Mo., to Richard Sedgwick Orr and Mary Yarger Orr. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Louis Yarger Orr.
She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Thomas Richard Palmer; their children, James Richard Palmer (Kit) of Florence, Ky., and Mary Janet Chapman (Joel) of Austin, Texas. Also surviving are her granddaughter, Andrea Jane McDonald (Brian), of Bastrop, Texas; nephew, Richard Orr (Sharon); and niece, Georgeanne Harris of Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Mildred, known to her friends as Midge, received her diploma from Shortridge High School in Indianapolis in 1938. After studying social services and vocal music, she graduated magna cum laude from Western College of Oxford, Ohio, in 1942. She and her husband, Dick, married Nov. 26, 1943, while he was undergoing pilot training for the U.S. Army Air Force. Prior to marriage she lived in Wichita, Kansas, Indianapolis, and LaCrosse, Wis. Together, she and her husband lived in Enid, Okla., San Antonio, Texas, Muncie, Marion, and Davenport, Iowa. They moved to Anderson in 1960, and became members of the First Presbyterian Church. Mildred’s daily life demonstrated her strong Christian faith.
During their early years together, Mildred devoted herself to creating a loving home for her husband and children while the family moved to various communities in support of Dick’s career. After locating in Anderson, she began her career as a social worker. She served as supervisor of Child Welfare for the Madison County Department of Public Welfare from 1963 through 1978.
After retirement, Mildred and Dick traveled extensively and spent winter months in Hawaii and Orange Beach, Ala., each year. Mildred enjoyed reading biographies and watching birds wherever she traveled. She pursued painting with watercolors and photography with an appreciation for beauty in nature.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff of St. John’s Hospice.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Ryan Rasmussen and Pastor Donna Madewell officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in Kingston Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial gifts be given to The First Presbyterian Church.
Post online condolences at www.rozelle-johnson.com or www.theheraldbulletin.com.
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Mildred Orr Palmer
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Mildred Orr Palmer
Aug. 26, 1921 - March 14, 2013
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