Russell Wilson Palmer

Russell Wilson Palmer, 98, of Route #3, died suddenly October 25, 2010, at Forest View Manor, in Meredith, NH Born in Plymouth on July 17, 1912, Russell was the son of Leslie and Martha [Kenniston] Palmer.  Both his parents died at a young age and Russell, the elder son, had to graduate high school at the age of 14.  As a youth, Russell struggled to keep the family farm after the early death of both of his parents.  Grandmother Leonora Kenniston lived with Russell, Lorita, Edward and Adriel at the farm during the 1920's to help them through this difficult time.  Russell often worked on town roads and eventually became road agent for the town of Campton in 1937.  As a young man, he was a skilled truck driver who hauled pulp into mills from many parts of the state in all seasons of weather.  Dairy farming was also an ongoing family occupation over the years.  Russell was a local agent for the Eastern State Farmers Exchange.  Flatbeds of grain came by train into the Plymouth Train Station every week.  He was in charge of unloading and distribution.   From 1944 to 1947 he worked for the state of New Hampshire Highway Department.  He was promoted in 1949 and worked as a superintendent for a road project near the dam in Campton Village.  Russell worked for Jake Craft Construction Company from 1950 to 1952. In 1952, he began work as a construction supervisor and contractor with C.R. West Construction Company.  He oversaw the building of many roads throughout the state of New Hampshire.  He took pride in his profession.  He loved to see the results of his work.  He was well satisfied to see a project progress from the initial conception process, to examining the blueprints, to the hiring of the skilled workmen, to collaborating with the engineers, to the final approval from the state officials at the end of a road construction project. Throughout his life, Russell was very engaged in his community and church.  He was a leader in the Campton Grange, active in the Campton Congregational Church.  He participated in the Republican Party, the Campton Historical Society, the Fish and Game Club and other local societies. He met the love of his life in 1935, Lucille Eleanor Dunklee, who summered at the Stag and Hounds in West Campton.  Russ married Lucille in 1937.  Her family came to respect and deeply appreciate him. Russ and Cille had two children.  Christopher was born in 1940 and Katherine was born two years later.  They made their life-long home at Da-We-Hi Farm on the Daniel Webster Highway in Campton.   After Lucille died in 1966, Russell retired in 1970 and began to travel with family.  He spent time in Homer, Alaska with his brother Edward.  He travelled to Mexico with his daughter and family.  He visited his nephew Dick Brooks in Spain and stayed with his son Christopher and family in Paris, France. Throughout his life, Russell enjoyed the process of making maple syrup.  In his teen years, he drove a team of horses that collected the sap from the maple trees.  Later, he fed the slabs of wood into the fires that distilled the sap into syrup in the time honored tradition of making maple syrup. Russell.  His children:  Christopher Palmer and his wife Suzanne of Weston, MA, daughterKatherine Cassady and her husband Philip of Snoqualmie, WA, grandchildrenChristine Savage, Thomas Palmer, Karen Johnson, Andrew Palmer, Sean and Yunbo Cassady and Edward and Amy Cassady, great grandchildren C.J., Matthew, Davis, Alex, Sydney, Tucker,Johnathan, and Shannon, sister and brother Audrey Johnson and John Dunklee, both of HebronHe also leaves many nieces and nephews:  Michelle Stickney, Michael Dunklee, Hannah Joyce, Heidi Hershey and their families, Beverly Morris, Dick Brooks, Christine Veale, Randy Palmer and Terry Palmer.  Special adopted family are George Johnson and John Leland.  He also leaves scores of neighbors and friends who will greatly miss his company and his stories.Memorials:In lieu of flowers, donations to the Campton Congregational Church, or the Campton Historical Society, Camtpon, NH. 03223 or the Pemi Fish and Game Club, PO Box 38, Plymouth, NH.Visitation:Calling hours will be held at the Palmer Home, on 1319 NH Route #3, on Friday, Oct. 29, 7pm to 9pm.Service:A funeral service will be held in the Campton Congregational Church on Saturday at 10am.  The Rev. Russell Petrie, pastor, will officiate.Cemetery:Burial will be held in the Blair Cemetery.