John L. Palmer
John L. Palmer died March 16, 2023 after suffering a debilitating stroke on March 1, 2023. John was born December 5, 1937 to parents Manford and Annette Palmer in Exeter, NH.
John spent his childhood years in Newbury, MA, attended The Governor's Academy and subsequently received his Bachelor's Degree from Harvard University and his Master's Degree from Rutgers University.
John served in the United States Army and was posted to Korea for part of his service.
John became a Certified Public Accountant and spent many years practicing with the accounting firm Arthur Young and Company in the Boston, Chicago and Jakarta, Indonesia offices. He also joined the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO) and spent 3 years in Saudi Arabia in the early 1980s.
When John and his wife (Mary Anna) left Saudi Arabia, John wanted to return his "roots" in Maine where he spent much of his childhood at the family "camp" in Oxford. He and his wife established their own business, Palmer Development Corp., dba Alternative Modular Homes in 1985 and built their home on the family "camp" property.
John had many interests. He became a major force in the Manufactured Housing Industry and was a long term member of the Maine Manufactured Housing Board. He served on the SAD 17 school board for 8 years; he was chairman of the Town of Oxford Planning and Appeals Boards; and a member of the Oxford Hills Kiwanis Club. Among other activities, flying was a passion for John and he and his wife were pilots of their own plane in which they traveled the country for many years. He also loved working in the woods on his property.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, his brother David, his nephew Scott and his two grandnieces, along with many cousins and their families in the Oxford area.
In lieu of flowers, John's family would encourage donations to the Town of Oxford on behalf of the Oxford Police, P.O. Box 161, Oxford, ME 04270; Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills, P.O. Box 82, Norway, ME 04268 and/or the USO, P.O. Box 96869, Washington, DC 20077-7677
A Celebration of Life event will be announced and held at a later date.