Gudger Palmer

Gudger Yost Palmer, age 101, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 16, 2011, at his residence. He was born on February 6, 1909 in the Cataloochee Valley to the late William A. and Milia Caldwell Palmer. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Mary Davis Palmer; two brothers, Glen C. Palmer of Rush Fork and William A. Palmer of Canton; two sisters, Pauline Palmer of the home and Hattie Smith of Charlotte. He attended Weaver College and graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 1936 with a degree in business. He went to work for Champion International in 1937 and worked as an accountant there for 35 years. He served in the United States Army during World War II for three years. He moved to Canton in 1942 and joined Central United Methodist Church where he served as church treasurer as well as a member of the finance committee for many years. He served as chairman of the Canton City Library Board and the Canton Chapter of the American Red Cross and served on the Salvation Army Board. He was a member of the Canton Civitan Club and of his long-standing weekly breakfast club, The Cowboys. He is survived by his daughter, Polly Anna Sloan and her husband, Jim, of Canton; a grandson, Chad Sloan and his wife, Sarah, of Davidson, NC. He is also survived by his loving caregivers, Sarah Branson, Marie Sutton, Doris Kepley, and Butch Moore; and many devoted nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with the Reverend David Christy officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until 1:45 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Dawn Memory Gardens at Crabtree United Methodist Church. Pallbearers will be John, Kim, Chris, David, and Cecil Palmer, Scott Evans, and Mark Bumgarner. Honorary pallbearers will be special friends, Woody Lipham, John Blair Hagler, Richard Secrest, Joe Worley, and Joe Soboslai. Memorials may be made to Canton Central United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 792, Canton, NC 28716.

Previous Events