Arthur Byron Palmer was born on September 21, 1919 on a farm in Morristown South Dakota to Mary and Spencer Palmer.  He was the third child born.  Caroline and Anna were born before him; and Lillian, Mabel and David were born after Arthur.  The Family Homestead had both dairy and beef cattle and used horse drawn equipment to bring in crops.

After the bumper crop of 1932 the land ( like the rest of the plains) did not have rain for five years.  The dust and tumbleweeds made farming impossible. At Arthur's urging the family traveled west in search of jobs picking fruit during the dust bowl.  Then in July of 1937 the entire family was packed up in a Model A Ford pulling a trailer and followed some cousins to  Yakima, Washington.  Arthur completed high school there, and picked cherries along with grocery store work after high school.

In 1941 he applied for a job as a meat inspector for the Agriculture Department, but ended up working as a file clerk for the Veterans Administration in Washington D.C. instead.

He had his sights set on becoming an Aeronautical engineer and enrolled for coursework at   George Washington University.   He was working at the V.A and attending classes at night.  Having just been hired to work in a Wind Tunnel testing aircraft he was told with his draft status, he might as well not show up because he would be drafted soon.  Realizing his likely fate, he joined the Army Air Corps, Aviation Cadets in 1942 before being drafted.

After a year and half of flight training in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, and Nebraska, he left from Virginia for Casablanca.  Once overseas he caught a flight to his base at Lecce Italy.  He piloted B-24 Liberator Bombers over Europe on 50 missions.  On his 50th and final mission, his plane was shot down.  He evaded the enemy for 8 days, was captured and spent 11 months in P.O.W. camp Stalagluft #1 near Barth Germany.

After WWII, Arthur spent 2 years in V.A. hospitals recovering from Spinal Tuberculosis caused by malnutrition in prison camp.  He completed a year of medical school, changed majors and graduated from University of Denver in 1954 with a bachelors degree in Chemistry.

After working his farm property outside Yakima Washington, selling cars, and working as a public assistance case worker he met and married Darlene Wagner.  He worked 26 years for Dupont Pharmaceutical as a Senior Sales Representative, retiring at the age of 66.

Arthur and Darlene raised three children together ( Melissa, Gregory, and Mary Kate) His family was his highest priority, and he said to us many times : "There is nothing more important than family!" He helped his children with school projects, car repairs, home repairs and anything they needed. He stayed busy managing rental properties, fishing and boating in the San Juan Islands, building an extensive garden, raising chickens,  traveling to 98th Bomb Group Reunions, and to  Alaska and California to see family.

He gave to his community through countless hours of volunteerism and membership in the Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge, Toastmasters Club, Rotary International, Skagit Men's Garden Club, the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation, and Bethany Covenant Church.

Arthur passed away September 14, 2024 at the age of 105.  He is survived by his children Melissa Boe (son in law Dennis) Mount Vernon,WA  ,  Gregory Palmer (daughter in law Yoshie) Miyzaki Japan, Mary Kate Johnston (son in law Paul) Palmer ,AK ,Grandchildren :

Aaron McIntosh(wife Julie)Mount Vernon,WA, Amy Mauger(husband Bobby) Corona CA, Andrew Boe,Burlington WA Adam Boe,Mount Vernon,WA, Brandon Palmer (wife Stephanie) Stanwood, WA , Vincent Mayer Redway, CA, Kathryn Hammer (husband Damon) Palmer, AK, Lisl Mayer San Diego, CA,  Great -Grandchildren: Duncan McIntosh(wife Alyssa), Owen McIntosh, Leo Shainman, Rachel Shainman, and numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

A Memorial Service is planned at Bethany Covenant Church on Friday September 27 at 2:00 pm with a private graveside service to follow.  Arthur will be interned at Hawthorne Memorial Cemetery next to his loving wife Darlene.

Contributions can be made in his memory to :  Mount Vernon Rotary Foundation (Scholarship program) PO Box 825 Mount Vernon, WA  98273 , Bethany Covenant Church  ,  or a charity of your choosing.