Charles Robert Palmer, of Whitehall, died Jan. 11, 2025. He was the wife of Lisa Palmer.

He was a son of Marcella (Gerhard) and Alfred Palmer, who came to America from Scotland.

He graduated from Whitehall High School in 1981 and attended Lehigh Carbon Community College to study criminal justice.

He served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant (E-5) in the military police corps and the airborne corps at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in North Carolina. He participated in Operation Urgent Fury, the U.S. military’s effort to rescue American students at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada. Throughout his service, he held several roles including traffic accident investigator, desk sergeant, unit armorer and assistant squad leader. While at Camp Ames, he started the camp’s 1985 flag football team, earning a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Army Recreation Services.

He attended police academy, launching his law enforcement career with the Southern Pines Police Department in 1987. After brief roles with the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Department and the Allentown Police Department, he found his long-term home with the Emmaus Police Department, where he served for 27 years, becoming chief of police.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters Amy and Megan and husband Steve; two granddaughters, Cora and Eve; a brother, Al; brothers and sisters in military and law enforcement; and close friends.

Services will be private. A celebration of his life will be arranged at a future date.

Contributions may be made to the funeral home, 444 Pershing Blvd., Whitehall, 18052, to be directed toward a cause in his name.

Arrangements were made by Gilbert Funeral Home Inc.