Lorraine Palmer
Education, environment champion

Both early childhood education and the environment were deep interests of Lorraine Chapman Palmer, her son Kirby recalls.

Mrs. Palmer, who grew up during the depression, died February 17, 2009 at the Health Services Center of Pilgrim Place following a period of failing health. She was 85 years of age.

Mrs. Palmer was born on August 21, 1923 in Ceres, California in the Central Valley to Leslie and Chestine Chapman. Her parents struggled on a farm to make ends meet; the young Lorraine at one time working in a cannery to help out. Mrs. Palmer’s maternal grandfather, Ervil Prescott, became a prominent citizen in the city of Modesto where a street is named for him.

Mrs. Palmer graduated from Ceres Union High School in 1941. During her high school years, she was president of her junior class. She attended Modesto Junior College from 1941 to 1943. She returned to school there between 1958 and 1962 following her marriage in 1947 to Barton Palmer in Modesto. They were married just short of 60 years when Mr. Palmer died on May 26, 2007.

During World War II, the then Miss Chapman worked as an escrow officer and held several secretarial jobs.

While raising her family, Mrs. Palmer attended Fresno State College (1967-1970) and Victor Valley College in the 1970s. In 1979 she again returned to college at the University of Redlands Johnston College where she graduated in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services. It took her almost 40 years, her family reports, but she truly earned her degree!

At the same time, Mrs. Palmer was active in PTA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and the YMCA. She and Mr. Palmer hosted many delegates to YMCA conventions in their home.

The family moved from Modesto to Fresno in 1966 where Mrs. Palmer worked as a pre-school and Head Start teacher with the Fresno City Schools.

Following a move to Apple Valley in 1970, Mrs. Palmer worked as a substitute teacher in Victorville.

Mr. and Mrs. Palmer came to Claremont in 1989 to be closer to family, and then to Claremont Manor in 2002.

Mrs. Palmer’s activities did not diminish when she came to Claremont. An active member of Claremont United Church of Christ, Congregational, she was a participant on the church’s Early Childhood Center board of directors and helped to establish the ECC Scholarship Fund. She also helped to found “Another Voice” at CUCC, served as a member of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and coordinated their speakers’ bureau.

   Surviving family members of Mrs. Palmer are her son and daughter-in-law, Kirby and Susan Palmer of Claremont; son and life partner Rodney Palmer and Darryl Boykins of Sacramento; daughter and son-in-law Cheryl Palmer-Bird and Bill Bird of Claremont, along with her grandchildren, Matthew and Erica Palmer of Claremont, Christopher Palmer of Upland, Robert Palmer and Zachary Bird of Claremont and Sabria Boykins of Sacramento.

Services for Mrs. Palmer were held on February 27, 2009 at Claremont United Church of Christ, Congregational.

Memorial contributions may be made to the CUCCC Early Childhood Center Scholarship Endowment, 233 W. Harrison Ave., Claremont, CA 91711 or to Inland Valley Hope Partners, 1753 North Park Ave., Pomona, CA 91768.

— Pat Yarborough