Gene "Wally" Palmer, 60, of Mabelvale, Ark., formerly of Western Pennsylvania, died of natural causes Sept. 11 at his home.

Born in Grove City, June 12, 1947, he was the son of the late William and Luella Burdette Palmer.

He was a Protestant.

Mr. Palmer was an honorably discharged veteran of the Army and was a member of the American Legion Post in Frederick, Colo.

He retired as a crane operator at the David J. Joseph Co. of Arkansas. At the time of his death, he was working for McCormick Painting of Arkansas.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and bowling and was a collector of knives and firearms.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Richard (Melissa "Missy") Foster of Rouseville and Joretta Palmer of Barkeyville; a son, Daniel Palmer of Parker; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Tim (Cheryl) Hughes of Eau Claire and Mrs. Allen (Christine) Boyd of Kennerdell; a stepson, Michael Wright of Hooker; his stepmother, Shirley Palmer of Butler; a brother, William "Bill" Palmer of Parker; and six sisters, Kate Evans of Oil City, Tina Stormer of Mercer, Marcia Busch of North Carolina, Hilda Claypool of Franklin, Charlotte McClelland of Oil City and Cindy Palmer of Butler.

Also surviving are five grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Wright Palmer, who died in 2002; two grandchildren; two brothers, and a sister.

<B>PALMER</B> — Friends of Gene "Wally" Palmer, who died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home</B>, Main Street-Route 38, Eau Claire. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Eau Claire Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a chapter of the American Heart Association.