Donald Ray Palmer, 74, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2013. He was born February 26, 1939 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, son of the late George Earl and Hilda Palmer. A funeral mass will be held Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 11:00 AM in St. Luke’s Catholic Church. A reception will follow the funeral mass. Burial will follow in Lakeland Memorial Park. Don was an active member of Central E.U.B. Church in West Virginia until he went to college. He attended George Washington University on a full scholarship for football, then received his Master’s degree from the University of Virginia. He taught middle school students for 35 years in two schools. He married Marilyn Rose Yantz June 26, 1971 in Woodbridge, Virginia. They made their home in Sterling, Virginia until June, 2002, when they moved to Charlotte, NC to be close to their children and grandchildren. The family attended Christ the Redeemer until the move to NC, where they are active members of St. Luke Catholic Church. His faithfulness to living a Christ-centered life was exhibited by his placing worship as a priority. Don loved his family with unconditional love. In addition to his wife, Marilyn, Don is survived by his son, Daryl Palmer and his wife Tess Weaver and their daughters, Caroline Rae and Meredith Rose; and his daughter, Rhonda Rae Williams and her husband, Dustin and their three children, Emma Grace Jacobus, Mason Luke Jacobus and Annah Valee Williams. Both families live within miles of each other and their parents. He is also survived by a sister, Shirley and a brother, Mark, both from West Virginia. Memorials may be made to St. Luke’s Catholic Church Building Fund, 13700 Lawyers Rd., Mint Hill, NC 28227. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory is caring for the Palmer family.