GULFPORT, Fla. – Robert “Bob” William Palmer Jr. passed away April 7, 2021, after a life of 87 years.

Bob was born Feb. 16, 1934 in Gilford. He was the son of Robert William Palmer Sr. and Virginia Lee Palmer. Bob graduated from high school in 1952. He joined the air force and served his country for four years. After the air force, Bob attended the University of Maine at Orono, graduating in 1961.

Following in his father’s footsteps, in 1960, Bob performed his first internship as city manager for the City of Rockland, Maine. This is where Bob met his future wife, Sylvia Rose Maker. After graduating, his first job was the town manager of Waldoboro. In 1962, Bob accepted the position to be the town manager of Limestone. In 1965, Bob was the city administrator for the City of Westbrook. In 1968, Bob became the first city administrator for the City of Waterville. For 13 years, he would spend his time managing the city and raising his family. Bob then took a position as the general manager for the Kennebec Water District located in Waterville. For 18 years, Bob managed the Kennebec Water District then he retired.

Bob’s other achievements consisted of a lifelong membership as a 32-degree freemason, a shriner, president of the Waterville Osteopathic Hospital, president of the Waterville Rotary Club, and a lifelong member of the Elks Club. During his retirement years, he worked as a management-financial-personnel consultant. Bob would summer in Vassalboro and winter at his condominium in Gulfport, Fla.

Bob had several hobbies. He enjoyed re-designing the house in Waterville. Bob loved to go fishing in the spring and hunting in the fall. He always had a garden, lots of plants and many pets.

As age crept up on Bob, he could no long travel back and forth to his beloved State of Maine, so he remained in Gulfport Fla. where he passed away. Bob’s ashes shall be placed at the Dover Cemetery, Dover-Foxcroft near his mother and father.

Robert W. Palmer Jr. is survived by the mother of his children, Sylvia; daughter, Virginia L. Sturies, her children, Christopher Sturies, Anja S. Parlin and husband Paul; son, Robert W. Palmer III, and wife Donna, his children Robert W. Palmer IV, and wife Rachel, and Athena M. MacDonald, her husband Kyle, and their child Torrin; son, Stuart C. Palmer and his wife Amy, and their daughter, Heather.

Robert was preceded by his father, mother; his two sisters, their husbands; and his son-in-law, Wolfgang Sturies.

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