William Donaldson “Bill” Palmer, 97, passed away Jan. 1 in Prairie City.

He was born Dec. 11, 1920, in Portland to William Donaldson and May (Fletcher) Palmer. He grew up and attended school in Portland. After graduating, he received training as an aviation technician. He served in the Army from 1939-1945. He then worked for the Federal Aviation Administration as an aviation radar technician from 1950 until he retired in the 1960s.

Palmer loved hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and mining. He fought back from a head injury resulting from a dynamite blast while working on a mining claim.

He was a member of the Whiskey Gulch Gang, the Assembly of God and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Thelma Ruth; second wife, June Palmer; and two sisters.

He is survived by his twin brother, Donald Palmer, Klamath Falls; son, Bill Palmer, Myrtle Creek; sister-in-law, Lorelei Hinton, Mt. Vernon; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at Canyon City Cemetery with a dinner following at the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.