Ronald Eugene Palmerton, 71, died Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at the Mississippi State Veteran’s Home in Oxford, MS. Full Military Honors will be given at the memorial service held at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL at a later date. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Born in Great Falls, Montana to the late Ernest and Dorreen Kuehn Palmerton, First Sergeant Palmerton served one tour of duty during the Vietnam War in the United States Marine Corps. During his 21 years of military service he was very proud to have had the opportunity to work at the headquarters of the United States Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. A natural athlete, who excelled in any sport, Ron was twice named “Athlete of the Year” in the Marine Corps. Mr. Palmerton enjoyed coaching golf. He was a former prep-school golf instructor and instructor at the Ole Miss golf course. He loved all Ole Miss sports, was a member of the Ole Miss Quarterback Club and enjoyed watching his nephews, Tag, Bo, and Gates Gatlin, play Oxford High School sports. He was a franchise owner of Labor Finders International. He recently took up antiquing with his wife. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Autumn Brumfield Fury.
Mr. Palmerton is survived by his wife, Deborah Honey Palmerton of Oxford, MS; daughter, Tami Palmerton Bennett and her husband, Anthony of Elberta, AL; sons, Brian Palmerton and his wife, Salina of Rio Rancho, NM and Brad Palmerton and his wife, Sheree of Rio Rancho, NM; son-in-law, Joshua Fury of Patuxent River, MD; sisters, Diana Kelly and her husband, John of Missoula, MT and Nancy Brus of Great Falls, MT; nine grandchildren, Brittney, Jackson, Elise, Cody, Holden, Jay, Brayden, Brystol and Bryson; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary Emma & Tommy Allen of Meridian, MS; and a very dear friend, Coach Linus Bridges of Jacksonville, FL.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Palmerton’s memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association (Mississippi Chapter), 207 West Jackson Street, Ridgeland, MS 39157.
You were the First Sergeant of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Brigade at the Marine Corps Air Station in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii in 1983 – ’84. I was the Platoon Sergeant of 2nd Platoon. We did a 6-month Western Pacific deployment aboard the USS Peleliu (LHA-5) during that time. That was more than 35-years ago, but it seems like yesterday to me. It was a pleasure to serve with you First Sergeant Palmerton. May you rest in peace! Semper Fi