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Karl R. Palmer, 80, of Altoona, died late Sunday evening, March 22, 2026, at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Altoona, a son of the late Norman H. and Betty A. (Graham) Palmer.
He married Barbara A. Baker on Feb. 3, 1968, in Cumberland, Md.
Surviving are his wife; a son, Dennis W. Young Jr. of State College; a daughter, Kimberly D. Pekar (Paul "Tim") of Duncansville; two granddaughters, Sara Plunket (Tim) of Altoona and April Kensinger (Lee) of Martinsburg; five great-grandchildren: Ashley, Jaidyn, Kallen, Alice and Tristan; and three great-great-grandchildren: Declan, Nixon and Harlan.
Karl was preceded in death by an infant sister; and a brother, Raymond Howard Palmer in 1972.
He was a 1963 graduate of Altoona High School.
He was a Pennsylvania Army National Guard veteran, serving during the Vietnam era.
Karl retired as a procurement officer from Ward Trucking Co. in 2004 following 31 years' service.
He was a member and past master of Logan Lodge #490 F &AM; a former trustee for the Altoona Masonic Hall Association; secretary/treasurer for eight years of the 20th Masonic District School of Instruction; former member and treasurer for Mountain Commandery, York Rite Bodies; Noble of the Jaffa Shrine, where he was secretary/treasurer of the Jaffa Color Guard for over 18 years; and a member of the Grand & Glorious Order of Hillbilly degree, #74, Horseshoe Curve Chapter.
Karl enjoyed camping, NASCAR, horses and hunting.
Friends will be received from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Myers-Somers Funeral Home Inc., 501 Sixth Ave., Altoona, where military funeral honors will be held at 6 p.m., followed by the funeral service. A Masonic funeral service will be held at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in memory of Karl please be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, c/o Jaffa Shriners, 2200 Broad Ave., Altoona, PA 1660; or Blair/Clearfield Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 2612 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona, PA 16602; or Foundation Fighting Blindness, P.O. Box 45740, Baltimore, MD 21297-5740 (for Retinitis Pigmentosa research).
myerssomersfuneralhome.com