Donald G. Palmer

Donald G."Cocoa" Palmer, 71 of Massillon, died on Sunday, July 8, at home after three months of fighting pancreatic cancer. He had participated in a clinical trial at OSU Cancer Center for 2 months. Don was born on October 22, 1940 in Pepperell. MA and lived in the MA and NH area until 1952 when he moved to Dalton, OH with his mother and two brothers. He graduated from Dalton High School in 1960 and served in the U.S. Navy from November 1960 until November, 1964. He married the former Nancy Hartline on October 4, 1969 in Beach City He worked at Superior Brand Meats from 1966-1989 and he retired from truck driving at Peoples Cartage in 2001. Don was a former Dalton Boy Scout and assistant scout master with Tuslaw Troop 278 where he earned 4 years of pipestone at Seven Ranges. He enjoyed riding his bicycle as a former Stark Park Trail Blazer and was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, the V.F.W., American Legion, the Good Sam Club and Sunnybrook Travelers. Don loved travelling with camper to other states to sightsee, visit friends/relatives and attend camping rallies. His grandchildren were always a special joy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald W. and Esther (Blood) Palmer Stewart, his brothers, Dean Palmer and Loran "Larry" Palmer and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Russell and Irene (Roush) Hartline. Surviving are his wife of almost 43 years, Nancy (Hartline) Palmer, son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Michelle Palmer, daughter and son-in-law, Ellen and Rob Geho, four grandchildren, Joey and Katie Palmer and Owen and Clara Geho all from Marysville, OH, his sisters-in-law, Judy Palmer and Brenda (Pat) Ryan, two special aunts in Hollis, NH, Hilda (Blood) Tolles and Priscilla (Blood) Moody, a sister-in-law, Carol (Gary) Sliffe, two brothers-in-law, Russell, Jr. (Connie) Hartline and Dwight (Diane) Hartline, several nieces and nephews and many cousins in Ohio and New Hampshire. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday at Faith Lutheran Church (107 – 6th Street SW, Massillon, Ohio 44647) at 11:00 AM. with Pastor Elaina Styblo of Faith Lutheran Church and Pastor Paul Schultz of First English Lutheran Church, Marysville, OH officiating. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery in Strasburg, Ohio. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 5-8 PM at the funeral home and at the church on Friday from 10-11:00 A.M. Donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or the charity of the donor's choice.