Alda Wilson Palmer

Asheville – Alda Wilson Palmer, 87, of Givens Estates died Tuesday, February 14, 2006. Mrs. Palmer was born July 26, 1918, in Asheville to William and Bernice Huntley Wilson. She was married for 56 years to the late, W. Riley Palmer, the Buncombe County Extension Agent for 36 years. She received her education at Cecil’s Business College and worked for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration of the Federal Government. Her first love was music so she continued pursuing music education at UNC-Asheville. She became a piano teacher and a soprano soloist at Central Methodist Church. She performed for the Asheville Community Theater and many other community organizations. Alda helped organize Asheville’s first junior woman’s club, the Etheridge Woman’s Club. She became their first president and held offices at the district level as well. She was a member of the Ruth Davidson Chapter of DAR, the former president of both the Asheville Music Club and the PEO Chapter AC of Asheville, and a member of the Asheville Country Club. Survivors include: a daughter, Anne and her husband, Dr. Hal Collier of Flowery Branch, Ga. and a son, Thomas R. Palmer and his wife Suzanne of Edenton, NC; four grandchildren, Huntley and Mary Anne McConnel of Atlanta, and Maritoka Palmer of Kill Devil Hills, NC and Cordell Palmer of Edenton. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm Friday in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian conducted by the Reverend Richrd R. Smyth. Entombment will follow in Lewis Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Crabtree Methodist Church, Clyde, NC 28721.