Janet Ruth Palmer, 89, of Schnecksville, died March 23, 2024, during a brief stay at Mosser Nursing Home, Trexlertown.

Born Dec. 30, 1934, in Mount Pleasant, she was the daughter of the late Jonathon Rogers Heess and Sara Marshall Heess.

After living briefly in Athens, Ohio, and Williamsport, Md., when she was young, she returned to her family’s roots in the Kennett Square area in 1942.

She graduated from Unionville High School and from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 1956.

She married Allan Pierson Palmer of Landenberg on June 29, 1957, at London Grove Friends Meeting.

She taught second grade at Avon-Grove School and later served as a substitute/assistant teacher for the London Grove Friends Meeting kindergarten.

She had lifelong interests in crafts, genealogy, gardening and entertaining family.

She was a member of the Hockessin, Del., Friends Meeting where she founded the meeting’s daily preschool and oversaw the children’s first day school.

She was also involved with the local Young Avon-Grove (“YAG”) Club, the Evergreen Garden Club and the Unionville Farm Show flower division.

Her civic involvement typically revolved around her children.

After the family moved to Clearbrook, Va., in 1972, she served as president of the James Wood H.S. Band Boosters.

After relocating to Schnecksville in 1977, she was president of the Lehigh County Chapter of the Feingold Association and a volunteer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Her survivors include her husband of 66 years; her son Jeffrey A. Palmer (Sarah) of Elkton, Md.; daughter Laurie E. Bonner (Steven) of Columbia, Md.; son Eric L. Palmer (Rebecca) of Oxford, Chester County; and grandson Allan N. Palmer of Elkton; her brother Richard M. Heess (Elaine) of Lincoln University, Chester County; one niece; three nephews; and seven grandnieces and grandnephews.

A memorial service and private interment are planned at Hockessin Friends Meeting.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at heintzelmancares.com.

Arrangements were made by Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Schnecksville.