Rosemary Lucille Woodson Palmer, 85, of Vinton, Virginia, passed away on Monday, February 13, 2023, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital while receiving comfort care following a stroke.
The daughter of Robert and Mamie Powell Woodson, she was born the thirteenth of fourteen children in Roanoke, VA on April 12, 1937. She graduated from Jefferson High School. She took pride in her work at Old Dominion Candies, Fulton Trucks, and Advance Auto.
While an employee at Fulton Trucks, she met her husband of 36 years, Tom Palmer. They built a home in the Stewartsville area and together enjoyed trips to Holden Beach, card games with friends, family reunions, Labor Day family weekends at Camp Bethel, and Wednesday night Bible studies at their church, Ninth Street Church of the Brethren, where Rosemary also enjoyed singing in the choir. She was a member of the Moose Lodge of Catawba and for years bowled in a women’s league at Vinton Bowling Lanes. A highlight of her year was an annual shopping trip in Williamsburg with her sisters and nieces.
Rosemary is survived by two sisters, Joyce Reed (Lester, deceased), and Janice Sink (Ron); one brother-in-law, Marvin Foster; and one sister-in-law, Lois Woodson. In addition, she is survived by a multitude of nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews, friends, neighbors, and her special dog, Sandy.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Palmer; her parents; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Rennie, Andrew, John, Joe (Zelda), Carl (Janie), Fred, and Bobby; and her sisters and brothers-in-law, Roberta Garst (Howard), Dorothy Jean Hartman (Tommy), Rachel Guthrie (Frank), and Shirley Foster.
The family thanks the nursing staff of the stroke unit and the nurses and doctors on the comfort care floor at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, as well as Dr. Bonnie Culkin, Rosemary’s trusted doctor of many years.
Those wishing to make a memorial contribution, please consider the Ninth Street Church of the Brethren. Online condolences may be made at www.Oakeys.com.
Greater Roanoke Area USBC 