Mr. Ray Allen Palmer, 85, of Greencastle, PA, passed away Friday, April 17, 2026 in Meritus Medical Center, Hagerstown, MD.
Born October 22, 1940 in Warfordsburg, PA, he was the son of the late Neil Herman Palmer and Goldie Catherine (Hill) Palmer.
Mr. Palmer was a graduate of Southern Fulton High School with the Class of 1959 later serving his country honorably in the United States Air Force.
He and his wife, the late Mrs. Ruth Ellen (Smith) Palmer, were married July 28, 1962 in Whips Cove Church, Warfordsburg. They moved to Greencastle in 1970 and shared 45 years of marriage when Mrs. Palmer passed away November 17, 2007.
Mr. Palmer was a longtime employee of Grove Manufacturing where he worked as a computer programmer. Following his retirement, he owned and operated the Country Wash House in Greencastle for a number of years.
In younger years, he enjoyed playing softball and bowling in local leagues. He also dedicated his time to coaching Little League and Pony League baseball and softball in the Greencastle area. Highly involved in dirt track racing, Ray raced go-carts for over 18 years, served as the mechanic for John Ebersole Racing, was responsible for the beginnings of Cove View Speedway in Warfordsburg and was an integral and essential part of son, Scott’s dirt track racing career. An avid outdoorsman who found great joy in hunting and fishing, he was one of the founding members of the M.P.H. and White Oak Hunt Clubs.
He is survived by two children, Scott A. Palmer and his wife, Dawn and Renee L. Goodwin and her husband, Brian, all of Greencastle; five grandchildren, Rachel Hostler (Cole), Meghin Boryan (Christopher), Jake Statler (Brooke), Marissa Palmer and Madee Goodwin; eight great-grandchildren, Maisie, Josie and Marlie Hostler, Harper and Ellie Boryan and Teagan, Adalynn and Baylor Statler; three brothers, Glen Palmer, Stanley Palmer (Brenda) and Lynn Palmer; and a number of nieces and nephews as well as a host of extended family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Miller-Bowersox Funeral Home, 521 South Washington Street, Greencastle.
A Celebration of Ray’s Life will be held at 4:00 P.M., Thursday, April 23, 2026 in Tri-State Fellowship Church, 13153 Cearfoss Pike, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family in Parklawns Memorial Gardens, Chambersburg, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: the Friday Guys Ministry at Tri-State Fellowship Church, 13153 Cearfoss Pike, Hagerstown, MD 21740.
