BELLVILLE: It wasn’t the expensive cameras, tripods, and flashes that made Don Palm so good at photography; it was his eye for the finished product and his desire to capture a treasured moment. Don was Bellville’s local historian photographer. No community or school event was complete without Don Palm behind his camera capturing the occasion and it endeared him to the community.
Don passed away Monday afternoon February 2, 2015 in OhioHealth MedCentral Hospital. He was 91.
Born February 19, 1923 on the family farm on Spayde Road, to Charles L. & Alma (Spayde) Palm, Don was graduated from Bellville High School in 1941. He went to war in 1942 with the US Navy. During World War II he served aboard the USS Montour (APA 101), a Bayfield–class attack transport as motor machinist mate and sang in the Navy choir. On leave he married his high school sweetheart A. Jean Gatton on February 3, 1943 (she promised him a kiss for every touchdown he made!).
He worked at Forts Auto Electric in Mansfield and retired from Western & Southern Life Insurance, servicing clients from the Mansfield office.
Don was an active member of Bellville Presbyterian Church, formerly served the church as elder, trustee, board member, sang in the choir, and served in just about every possible capacity. A member of the Bellville Jefferson Township Historical Society, Don served as president for several years. He served 12 years on Bellville village council and had been a school bus driver for Butler Schools.
A go-to kind of guy, Don was the “fix-it-man” for his family who always had a word of advice. Don always had a word…lots of words…he loved to talk, and was never at a loss for words.
He operated Don Palm Photography for years, a professional photography service and photographed trailers for HiLo brochures for years.
His woodshop was active in the wintertime crafting to-scale models of Bellville’s bandstand, landing craft, caisson, a merry-go-round and many more.
He is survived by his wife A. Jean (Gatton) Palm; their children Karen & Steve Titus of Bellville and Chris & Carol Palm of Lexington; grandchildren Brent & Diana Titus of Bellville, Jodie Titus of Bellville, Benji & Denise Bethea of Bellville, Sarah & Eric Antonik and Sadie & Dustin Ehrmantraut all of Cleveland, Jacob & Riley Miller of Bellville, Dustin & Aaron Palm of New Hampshire, Travis & Kylee Palm of Columbus, Joshua & Kelly Palm of Shelby, Jermery Palm of Butler and Dee & Tom McClought of Gallipolis; and great grandchildren Addison, Brier, Sawyer, Lincoln, Joel, Jaden, Micalah, Chad, Molly, Macie, Bradon, Riley, Issy, Emma, Mason, Dante, Warren, Peyton and Dalton.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Peggy Miller and sisters Leeta Dailey and Martha Palm.
The Palm family will receive friends Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home. His funeral service will be held Friday at 1 p.m. in Bellville Presbyterian Church with Pastor Karin Wright officiating. Military honors will follow the funeral on the church grounds held by American Legion Post #535. Burial will follow in Bellville Cemetery.
Contributions in his memory to Bellville Presbyterian Church may be made at the funeral home.
Snyder Funeral Home is honored to serve the Palm Family and invites you to send them a message of hope and love or see Don’s tribute video at SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
