Obituary of Barbara Raeder Palmer

Barbara Raeder Palmer, 93, died at her home in State College, Sunday, January 20, 2019. She was born March 30, 1925 in Baltimore to the late Florence and Irving Raeder. Barbara and James R. Palmer met at Iowa State University and married in 1948. She and Jim, former president of C-COR Electronics and Centre Video (now Comcast) moved to State College in 1953. Jim predeceased Barbara on October 12, 2001. Barbara and Jim raised three children: Janet, (married to Eli Lipcon); David, (married to Debbie), who passed away in July of 2014, and Chuck (married to Halina). Barbara is also survived by 4 grandchildren – Jacob and James Lipcon and Amy Jensen and Jenica Phillips with 9 great-grandchildren; Ella, Sam, Jim and Wiley Lipcon; Terrence, Ryker, Hudson and Oliver Jenson; and Xavier Phillips. Together, she and her husband were recognized reliable volunteers and as philanthropic leaders at a most important period in State College and Penn State history. Barbara volunteered with the Girl Scouts, the Park Forest Pre-School, the Museum of Art, Diakonia Presbyterian Church, Centre County United Way, and Musical Theatre among others. In 1986, they contributed C-COR stock sufficient to name The Palmer Museum at Penn State, and to endow chairs in the Colleges of Communications and Engineering. The Palmers also contributed stock to Iowa State, their Alma Mater, to name the Palmer Human Development and Family Studies Building and endow a chair in the Department of Engineering. Barbara will also be remembered for her friendship and generous support of numerous cries for assistance by organizations and individuals, especially artists. In her spare time, she was an avid reader and a licensed pilot where she helped Jim stay on course. They went scuba diving together in Grand Cayman just for the fun of it. Together, Barbara and Jim became serious students and collectors of American Art, most of which will be contributed to the Palmer Museum. Contributions in Barbara's memory can be made to the Palmer Museum of Art, Curtin Road, University Park, PA 16802. A memorial service will take place at a time to be determined this Spring.