Carroll W. Palmer, 92, of Frederick County, Va., died Wednesday, Feb.20, 2013 at his home.

Dr. Palmer was born in 1920, in Washington Court House, Ohio, the son of E. Ray and Margie Palmer. He graduated from West Union High School in Adams County. He attended Alfred Holbrook College in Manchester, and received his BS in mathematics from Ohio Northern College in 1941. He completed his MS in education at the University of Alabama and his EdD from Columbia University in New York City.

He was drafted into the Army in February 1942, and trained at Ft. Bragg, N.C. He was initially assigned to the 8th Infantry Division as a surveyor. His first love however, was flying and, with help from his sister at home getting his papers together, he applied for and was accepted into the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program. He completed training to fly B-24 bombers and C-47s and was eventually assigned as a C-47 pilot in the 78th Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group in the European Theatre of Operation for World War II.

He participated in the D-Day invasion dropping paratroopers and towing gliders into France. He was awarded battle and campaign ribbons for Normandy, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He also received the following decorations and citations: European African Middle Eastern ribbon with seven bronze battle stars; the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Presidential Unit Citation. In October, 2005 he received the French Diplome for the “Jubilee of Liberty” presented by the Counsul General of France, Jean Pierre Allex-Lyoudi, and the Normandy Commemorative Medal from the 9th Air Force Association.

Dr. Palmer was married to the former Ruth Price, of Priceville, Ala. in 1945 and they shared 67 years of marriage.

Dr. Palmer began his teaching career before WWII at Fairfield Schools in Leesburg, Ohio. After discharge from the service, he taught at Sligo High Sschool in Washington Court House, Ohio, then at Central Junior High School in Marion, Ohio. He spent a year completing an internship in secondary education administration at Butler High School in Butler, N.J. From 1954-56 he taught at Tougaloo Southern Christian College in Jackson, Miss. While there he also supported black citizens in their attempts to register to vote by coaching them in parts of the Mississippi Constitution, which only black applicants had to read to show that they were literate. From 1956 through 1962, Dr. Palmer taught education at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, where he was head of secondary education. He returned to Ohio from 1962-65 and served as assistant principal of Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights. In 1965 he accepted an appointment as principal of Haddonfield High School in New Jersey, followed by two years at Fitch Senior High in Mystic, Conn. In 1969 he returned to college work as Chairman of the Education Department at then Shepherd College, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1985.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Lea Hoak (Charles), Randy Palmer, Bob Palmer (Roxanne) and Tom Palmer (Diana), two grandchildren, Jenna Palmer and Todd Palmer (Ashley), a step-granddaughter Melissa Massenburg and three step great-granddaughters; a sister, Donnabel Bate and brother, Lloyd Palmer (Janet) both of Hillsboro, Ohio and three nephews.

A funeral service was conducted on Monday at 2 p.m. at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel, with the Rev. Clay Knicks officiating. Interment was at Mount Hebron Cemetery, with military honors afforded by VFW Post 2123.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, VA 22601 or Kernstown United Methodist Church, 3239 Valley Avenue, Winchester, VA 22602

Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com.