Ruth James Palmer, a masterful mom
Ruth James Palmer, 89, formerly of Fort Washington, a mother and amateur artist, died Tuesday, June 7, of cardiac disease at Pennswood Village, Newtown.
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Ruth James Palmer, 89, formerly of Fort Washington, a mother and amateur artist, died Tuesday, June 7, of cardiac disease at Pennswood Village, Newtown.
"She had many talents, but mission No. 1 was to be a mom," said her son, Thomas A. Palmer.
Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of Evan L. and Esther Ringland James. After graduating from Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, she attended the University of Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Palmer married businessman Theodore B. Palmer III in 1947, and began a life doing what she loved - being a homemaker and rearing the couple's six children. She traveled and spent 48 summers at the family's second home in Beach Haven, N.J.
Mrs. Palmer was the consummate hostess. She also did beautiful knitting, sewing, and needlepoint, and excelled at painting in watercolors "with a delicate hand," her family said in a tribute. Those who received the paintings felt privileged, her son said.
One of her goals was to self-publish a cookbook for family and friends, illustrated with her own art work. She met the goal, and called the keepsake "My Promise," her family said.
Early in her married life and while living in Springfield, Delaware County, she was a member of the Junior Women's Club of Springfield.
After the family moved to Fort Washington, she joined the First Presbyterian Church of Ambler and served two three-year terms as an elder.
The family's third move was to Upper Makefield, where they remained as longtime residents. She was a member of the nonprofit Fan-Back Questers, the Countryside Gardeners, and the Doylestown Country Club.
She and her husband were members of the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club in Beach Haven.
After her husband died in 2005, she took his place on the Princeton University Advisory Board for the Class of 1947.
Always interested in her family's activities, Mrs Palmer "was the glue that held the family together," her son said.
Besides her son, she is survived by daughters Carol P. Newburger and Linda P. Danese; sons James F., Jeffrey H., and Steven L.; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a companion, Paul D. "Pete" Loser.
Services were Friday, June 17.
Donations may be made to the James A. Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown, Pa. 18901, or to the Long Beach Island Museum, Box 1222, Beach Haven, N.J. 08008.
610-313-8102