Kathryn Smallbones Palmer

Click Here to Download a free funeral planning guide.

Celebrating the life of
Kathryn Smallbones PalmerNovember 11, 1919 - March 19, 2009

Kathryn Smallbones Palmer, 89, died peacefully at her home on Tybee Island, Georgia, on March 19, 2009 after a brief illness. She was born in Savannah on November 14, 1919, the daughter of the late Eva Grady and Theodore Wayman Smallbones of Savannah. She was preceded in death by her husband, William "Bill" Palmer and her sister Mary McGrath.

She is survived by two daughters: Kathryn "Winkie" Schlaudecker and her husband, Thomas of St. Helena Island, SC and Anne Palmer Whitney of Tybee Island; five grandchildren: Robert Whitney and his wife Lacey of Sunbury, GA, Kathy Whitney and her husband Joe Hul of Tybee Island, GA, Mark Schlaudecker of Glen Gardner, NJ, Christopher Schlaudecker and his wife Sibby of Basalt, CO, Keith Schlaudecker and his wife Jennifer of Bloomsbury, NJ; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews and her canine companion, Carmen Miranda.

Mrs. Palmer was graduated from Savannah High School in 1938, where she was also first runner up for Miss Savannah High. She was graduated from Armstrong Junior College in 1940. During WWII, she was trained as a long distance telephone operator to help meet the national emergency demand. She was assigned to Hunter Field to assist soldiers in making long distance calls home and was quickly promoted to supervisor. She and her family moved from Savannah's Isle of Hope to Albany, Georgia in 1957. After completing the Adult Business Education curriculum at Albany Vocational School, she was first employed by the Flint River Girl Scout Council, where she was commended for over and above service and honored with a luncheon. She was later employed by Albany's West Town Elementary school as secretary. She and her husband Bill returned to Tybee Island in 1992, where she resided until her death. In 2005, she was honored with a commemoration ceremony and
engraved plaque by Isle of Hope's Wimberley Garden Club for having served as chair of a 1954 project to plant an Avenue of Live Oaks down the median of Richmond Drive. She was active in St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Isle of Hope; she and her husband were one of the Founding Families of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Albany, Georgia and were active members of All Saints Episcopal Church on Tybee Island.

Visitation: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Sunday, March 22, 2009 at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel.

Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 23, 2009 at All Saints Episcopal Church on Tybee Island. Pallbearers will be Robert Whitney, Mark Schlaudecker, Christopher Schlaudecker, Keith Schlaudecker, Joe Hul and Thomas Schlaudecker.

Interment: Bonaventure Cemetery.

Memorial donations: Hospice Savannah, PO Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416 or All Saints Episcopal Church, 804 Jones Ave, Tybee Island, GA 31328.

SHARE YOUR CONDOLENCES

Submissions protected by Kanshi.

GUEST BOOK

Dear Winkie and Anne, I am so sorry for your loss. Your mother was a special lady. I knew her best thru Albany's school system. But there was a special connection - she worked with my mother in Girl Scouts many years ago. I remember her fondly. Peace, Joann Roark Arneson

- Joann Arneson, Leesburg, GA

My deepest thoughts and codolences to your family. She was a wonderful lady.

- Peggy Grady, Island Pharmacy, Tybee Island, GA

Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad time. Your memories of your wonderful grandmother will be a great comfort. We love you all, Eddy and Nancy

- Laud and Nancy Peeples, Midway, GA

Winkie and Anne, So very sorry to read of your Mother's death. Please accept my condolences. I will always remember the good times in Scouting. Jan

- Jan Miller Swift, Albany, GA

YOU KNOW OUR THOUGHTS AND PRYERS ARE WITH YOU. YOUR MOTHER WAS A GREAT PERSON. SHARON DANIEL

- SHARON AND MELISSA DANIEL, SAVANNAH, GA

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this sad time.

- Sara and Allan Jones, Tybee Island, GA

I am so sorry for your loss. I will always have such wonderful memories of your mom. My prayers, Neca Blair Stoller

- Neca Stoller, Tybee Island, GA

I was so very sorry about Kathryn..what fond and warm memories I will always have especially when She and Bill where at St. Patricks in Albany..they worked hard but also knew how to have a good time...and Moe and I did with Them and grandchildren Roby and Kathy..My condolences to Winkle and Anne and other fam;ly members. Joyce Bridges-Judkins

- Joyce Bridges-Judkins, albany, GA

My thoughts and prayers are with you through this most difficult time.

- Catherine Wells, Savannah, GA

Sincerest Sympathy, Mary McPeters Price Tybee Island, GA

- Mary Price, Savannah, GA