death of NWA Capt. Kenneth Harmon Palmer, age 83
death flwnwst
~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. Kenneth Harmon Palmer
February 26, 1943 - April 1, 2026
Kenneth Harmon Palmer’s affiliation with Northwest began 02-05-1968. Kenneth is survived by his wife Billie, and by his children and grandchildren.
PCN memorial site https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2026/04/nwa-capt-kenneth-harmon-palmer.html
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/kenneth-palmer-obituary?id=61186560
Kenneth Palmer Obituary
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Rose Funeral & Cremation - Mann on Apr. 6, 2026.
Kenneth Harmon Palmer, age 83, went to his Heavenly home on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Ken was born and raised in Gladwin, Michigan. From the age of 9, Ken spent many hours working in his parent's store, Palmer's Food Center, where his first job was sorting glass pop bottles before school. By the age of 10, he was delivering groceries sitting on phone books in his Dad's pick up truck. Ken graduated from Gladwin High School, Class of '61, and attended Bob Jones University in South Carolina. His love of flying began early; he earned his private pilot's license at sixteen. Ken flew as an Army reservist and began his commercial aviation career in 1966 with Zantop Airlines. During his career, he rose to captain and trained countless pilots as a check airman. In the last 5 years of his career, he captained the Boeing 747-400. He retired from Northwest Airlines in 2003 after 35 successful years.
Ken met his beloved wife, Billie, in Gladwin. They married in 1964, and lovingly navigated life together for over sixty-one years. Together they have two children - Keith (Karen) and Julie (Luis) and four grandchildren - Max, Mo, Avery, and Rylie.
Ken was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, a dedicated and skilled pilot and a woodworking enthusiast. He loved his family, working on his home and in the yard and all things aviation. Ken demonstrated a most admirable work ethic in all aspects of his life. Ken and Billie lived in Michigan, Minnesota, Florida and North Carolina before calling Tennessee home in 2021.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Harmon and Gizella Palmer, and siblings Gordon Palmer, Mary Hackenberg, Joyce Lund, and Janet Mahon. It's a lively reunion in Heaven, to be sure!