Jean Esther McComb Palmiter died peacefully in her home on April 3, 2017 in Virginia Beach, Virginia at the age of 81.
Jean is survived by her loving and devoted husband Warren Palmiter, and their four children: Sheryl, James, Diane and Tracey; Sheryl and Peter Bice of Norfolk, Va, James and Susan Palmiter of New York, NY, Diane and Jeffrey Wooldridge of Williamsburg, Va, and Tracey Palmiter of Chesapeake, Va, and their grandchildren, Miryah and Thomas Nielsen of Virginia Beach, Va, Andrew and Noelle Bice of Norfolk, Va, Sean Wooldridge of Albany, NY, Brittany Wooldridge of Copenhagen, Denmark, Dean Palmiter of New York, NY, Kelsey Wooldridge of Williamsburg, Va, Margot Palmiter of New York, NY, Brooke Wooldridge of Williamsburg, Va and their great grandchildren, Emmalise, Aiden, Broderick, and Chloe of Norfolk, Va and Sebastian and Benjamin of Virginia Beach, Va.
Jean was born on February 26, 1936 in Newark, New Jersey to Margaret and James McComb. She graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a degree in education. She married Warren Palmiter a Naval Officer in 1958 and moved to Norfolk, Virginia. Her first teaching position was at Ingleside Elementary School in Norfolk, Virginia. After moving to Green Brook, New Jersey, Jean and Warren started a family. Over the next eight years they were blessed with four children, and moved to New Berlin, New York, where Jean began teaching at New Berlin Central School. Jean received her Master’s degree in Education from Syracuse University and for 23 years taught first through sixth grade and Special Education – she was named Teacher of the Year, and served as the Teacher’s Association President. The couple also purchased and operated The Red Lantern, a fine dining restaurant in Ilion, New York. Jean was a member of The Order of the Eastern Star, and also a Boy Scout Den Leader; she established, coordinated and was Teacher Sponsor for the New Berlin Majorettes. She and her husband, along with their children, established and worked numerous businesses along with working full time in education. As an animal lover, her children were allowed to bring home any creature that struck their fancy – if the animal was injured she nursed it back to health, after which it was returned to the wild, all other animals found a safe home and were often sitting in someone’s lap for breakfast. After 23 years in education, Jean retired, and the couple moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia.
In Virginia Beach, Jean was a member of the Eastern Shore Chapel and served as a Stephen Minister, she also was a volunteer for the peanut program and the food bank at the church. Jean volunteered her time with numerous charities and anything her children and grandchildren were involved in. Those who were privileged to know her will describe her as a generous, determined, well educated woman with a sharp wit and wonderful sense of humor. She put her family first and constantly worked to make her community a better place. Her sense of adventure and thirst for knowledge made her as comfortable on her horse as she was riding on a motorcycle or snowmobile.
A Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for 1:00 PM on April 8th, 2017 at Eastern Shore Chapel, 2020 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia with a reception to follow at the church. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jean’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Westminster Canterbury Hospice or Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences can be sent to vacremationsociety.com.