Rod Palmer, retired commander of diesel-powered fleet submarines, died peacefully at home Nov. 4, 2021, in Valley Center, California at the age of 98.
Born in Centralia, Washington in 1923, he entered the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served in the Pacific throughout World War II. He had a 32-year career in the Navy. He was part of the infamous “Dirty Nine” of Centralia High School.
He is survived by his wife Virginia Leighton; children Greg Palmer, Stuart Palmer, Florence Prestwood and Daniel Leighton; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
