In Memoriam:
David Palmer
August 16, 1960 - April 1, 2003
from the Austin American-Statesman, 4/3/2003
David Christopher John Palmer, devoted father, loving son and brother,
and friend to many, was called home to our Lord on Tuesday, April 1, 2003,
at the young age of 42. He was a man of strong faith and had a special love
for life's many gifts. David had many friends and touched many lives.
David Christopher was born in Wichita, Kansas on August 16, 1960,
the third of five children to Paul Raymond and Theresa Jeanette Rice Palmer.
David spent the first thirteen years of his youth growing up with his three
brothers, sister and fourteen cousins in various small farm communities in
Southeastern and Northeastern Kansas. In 1973, he moved to Texas with his
family where he completed high school at Crockett High School in 1978.
Following high school he attended the University of Texas on an academic
scholarship in Civil Engineering before he received a Bachelors of Science
at Southwest Texas State University in 1986 and then a Master of Science
in Computer Science at Southwest Texas State University in 1993. As a boy,
David was a member of the Crockett Cougar Marching Band and the St. Ignatius
Youth Group. He would play his trumpet at the St. Ignatius Christmas
midnight Mass. David was an avid outdoorsman and sports fan. He loved to
camp and serve as little league baseball coach for his three beautiful
children. David spent fifteen years as a Systems Analyst III working
for the Texas Department of Transportation family. David was a devoted
father who loved his three children, Daniel Clement, age 12, Moriah Theresa,
age 10, and Joshua Paul-David, age 8, more than life itself. He is preceded
in death by a son, Baby Timothy John. No father loved his children more!
In addition to his beloved children, David is survived by his proud parents,
Theresa Jeanette and Paul Raymond Palmer of Austin; his brother Stephen,
wife Ella and their children, Ryan and Michelle of Austin; his brother Michael,
wife Becka and their children, Jonathan and Jayne of Austin; his sister
Theresa Marie Palmer Brandt and her children, Christopher and Nicholas
of San Antonio; and his brother Patrick Palmer of Austin. David is also
survived by his maternal aunt Carolee Struble and twelve first cousins
residing in Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, Georgia, Florida and Indiana.
David will be dearly missed, but his unconditional love and dedication
to his family will be with us always. Visitation will begin on Thursday,
April 3, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home, followed by a wake and
rosary at 7:00 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 4,
2003, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Ignatius, Martyr Catholic Church, Reverend Joe Tomei,
C.S.C., as celebrant. Entombment will follow at Assumption Cemetery Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be David's brothers, Stephen Joseph, Michael Shawn and
Patrick Shane, and cousins Vincent Struble, Marc Struble and Anthony Struble.
Lectors will be David's sister, Theresa Marie Brandt, his brother Stephen,
and his aunt Carolee Struble. Altar Servers will be David's niece and nephew
Michelle Erin Palmer, Ryan Charles Palmer, and Jessica Estrada.
The Lay Eucharistic Ministers will be David's sister Theresa Marie Brandt,
Knights of Columbus members Benny Flusche and Bill Harris, St. Ignatius
Men's Club member Jesse Ybarbo, and family friend Janell Bunten.
Arrangements by Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress, Austin 442-1446.