Ruth May (Kissam) Palmer

Ruth May Palmer, of Charlotte, North Carolina, entered into rest on July 4, 2023, at the age of 94, peacefully at home, surrounded by her family and caregivers. Ruth was born March 6, 1929, in Newburgh, New York, to parents Benjamin and Alice French Kissam. Ruth graduated from Newburgh Free Academy and married her high school sweetheart, William Pizarro. They moved to New York City, where she worked as a secretary for a legal firm and had two sons. After her husband’s untimely passing, she returned to Newburgh. As a single mom, she worked for fifteen years at DuPont Chemical Company where she met and married Emery Palmer. Ruth and Emery bought a waterfront home in Orange Lake, NY, where she worked as a real estate agent and welcomed her third son. After moving to Peninsula, OH, they settled in Charlotte, NC, where they lived happily ever after.

Ruth’s survivors include her sons:  William Pizarro and wife Donna, Michael Pizarro and wife Denise, Emery Palmer Jr. and wife Trena, and her five grandchildren (Dori, Kate, Caron, Michelle, and John), and five great-grandchildren (Jackson, Madi, Lucas, Matthew, and Emily). She was predeceased by husband William Pizarro, husband Emery Palmer, brother Ben Kissam, and sisters Kay Norris and Alice Collier. A special thanks and deep appreciation to her amazing Caregivers, who loved Ruth and cared for her with genuine love and affection. 

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 8th, 10:00am-11:30am, at Carolina Funeral Service (5505 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28212). A graveside service will follow at Crown Memorial Park at 1:00pm. In Ruth’s memory, as an expression of sympathy, donations may be sent to Ruth’s Hospice Care Team, VIA Health Partners, at
www.viagiving.org/one-time-giving or PO Box 470408, Charlotte, NC 28247. 

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