Obituaries
Zanesville: Reverend Robert L. Palmer, Sr., a retired former Pastor and devoted
servant of God, peacefully passed away in his home in Zanesville, Ohio on
May 5, 2025, at the age of 99 years old.
A devoted servant of God, Rev. Palmer, seeking to serve in the proper capacity,
attended Payne Theological Seminary, West Virginia State Bluefield Institute,
and following the directions of the Ohio Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal (AME) Church, hewas called and licensed to preach in 1978 by the
Presiding Elders of the Church. He went on to receive many outstanding and
recognition awards which included: Recognition from the Mayor's Office of the
City of Columbus, Ohio, as well as the Mayor's Office of the City
of Zanesville, Ohio; Ohio Board of Examiners, Columbus District AME Church.
There he was an instructor of the AME Ministers' 4th year Study classes; received
the Outstanding Clergy Award from the Third District AME Church Lay
Organization; and ordained and elected Elder in the Ohio Annual AME Conference.
Rev. Palmer was then called to pastor multiple churches throughout Ohio, such as: Bethel
AME Church of Barnesville, Ohio; Shaffer Chapel AME Church of Cambridge, Ohio; St. Mark
AME Church of Columbus, Ohio; Associate Pastor at St. Paul AME Church of Columbus, Ohio
and in 2014, as a retired pastor, he returned to his beloved home of St. Paul AME Church in
Zanesville, Ohio, serving and assisting the Senior Pastor in any way he could.
Rev. Palmer's helping contributions to various church programs have been many, including
Young Men with a Future; Prison Ministries of St. Paul AME, Columbus, Ohio; Tutorial and
Scholarship Programs; support of the Open Shelter Program; and a stalwart supporter of
Wilberforce University. His pride was reflected in helping establish an Edifice-Building
Committee for St. Mark AME, Columbus, Ohio; participating in the NAACP; and a Member
of the Board of Directors - Ohio Housing Corporation.
His developmental and career path began with serving his country in the United States Navy,
being Honorably Discharged in 1946 and was employed by AT&T Phone Company for 34 years,
ending as a Central Office Foreman.
He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. George P. Palmer, Sr. and he was the devoted
husband to Dorothy Imogene Branson (deceased) of Zanesville, Ohio with whom he raised
three sons: Robert Lee, Jr. (deceased), Richard E. (Christina) and Donald B. Palmer (Lisa).
Rev. Palmer was also married to Mrs. Lucile A. F. Louden (deceased) of Columbus, Ohio,
and became stepfather to Anita Morris (deceased), Rosalind Glover (Otis), Richard Pace (Denna),
Denise Pace, Beverly Pinkston (Mark-deceased), and Lummie Pace, Ill (deceased). Returning to
Zanesville, Rev. Palmer united with an endearing special friend and beloved companion, Veronica
Barnett. He had four brothers, Brentford P. Palmer (deceased), Theodore D. Palmer,
Douglas E. Palmer (Maryjane), George Phillip Palmer Jr. (Becky) and two sisters,
Gwendolyn M. Busy (deceased) (David-deceased), Helen M. Burns (deceased) (Carl).
Although driven by his many duties and service, he always found time for his family
and cherished the great times they all had together.
No hour was too early or too late for Rev. Robert L. Palmer to minister to one in need,
wherever it took him. After his retirement he continued to live up to his motto:
"If I can help somebody as I travel along the way, then my work for the Lord has not
been in vain."
A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held on May 17th, 11:00 AM, at St. Paul AME Church,
561 Pine Street, Zanesville, Ohio 43701, presided by Rev. Clifton R. Kilpatrick, Pastor of
St. Paul AME Church, where the family will receive friends 10:00 AM until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul AME. Church. Arrangements entrusted
to CALIMAN FUNERAL SERVICES. WWW.CALIMANFUNERALSERVICES.COM
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Zanesville: Shirley A. Madinger Stettler
Shirley was born January 11th, 1938, and grew up in Frazeysburg Ohio. She
was called home to glory on March 16th, 2025.
Shirley attended Bethesda Nursing School in Zanesville. There she met and married
Marvin Madinger, her first husband and father of her children, Greg & Michelle.
She gave birth to Greg in 1960. Michelle wouldn’t come along until much later in
1977. Shirley was certain she just had the flu.
She was a caregiver all her life. She worked at Bethesda Hospital for over 40 years.
She worked in many areas of the hospital. She came from the “Old Bethesda on
the hill and described what it was like to tour the then “New" Hospital when it was built.
She worked in the Emergency Room, Surgery and Implement Sterilization. When she
ended her career at the hospital, she went on to continue to care for patients as a
home health care aide. She continued to work until the age of 77. She jokingly said it
was time for her to stop working because she was now older than some of her patients.
Her caregiving didn’t end there. She helped care for her grandchildren as they
grew up. She loved her family. She enjoyed flowers, acrylic painting, quilting,
and square dancing.
She was preceded in death by her parents Lester & Leona Denman, siblings
Paul, Ronnie, Dwight, Kenneth Harold, Keith, Donald and Patricia, son Gregory
A Madinger, and 1st husband Marvin C Madinger. She is survived by her daughter
Michelle (Michael) Simpson. Her grandchildren, Gregory, Tara, Matthew, Elizabeth,
Javier, Zyon and Yazmen and 8 great grandchildren.
Friends and family may call on Thursday, March 20, 2025 from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m.
with funeral services starting at 12 p.m. at Burrell Funeral Services in Zanesville, Ohio.
Contributions can be made to the American Heart Association to honor her
memory. BURRELL FUNERAL SERVICES is serving the family.
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