Judith Palmer

Judith Ann (Giehl) Palmer, age 78, after a life full of love, kindness, and warmth returned to her Lord at 8:53 pm on October 24th, 2025 peacefully surrounded by her adoring family. Preceded in death by her mother Sarah Jane (Stewart) Giehl and brother Mike Giehl. Survived by her husband Edward H. Palmer; children Debby Palmer (Aaron) Howard and Michael (Cassie) Palmer; grandchildren Mason Howard, Ryann Howard, Tristan Palmer, Reece Howard, Luke Howard, and Sienna Palmer; father Robert March Giehl Jr; brother Gary (Charlotte) Giehl; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Judy was born on December 5th, 1946 in Columbus, Ohio. She was a lifelong member of her beloved St. James Lutheran Church, where she faithfully served her Lord teaching Sunday School, baking countless pans of cookies, and working the dessert table at the annual Brat Festival. On June 7th, 1968, she married the love of her life, with whom she shared fifty-seven blessed years of unwavering devotion and support. She graduated from The Ohio State University in just three years so she could jump right into her vocation—teaching. For the next thirty-three years Judy taught first grade at Alton Hall Elementary. She cherished all of her students, loved attending their afterschool events, and proudly followed their journeys long after they left her classroom.

Besides spending as much time with her family as possible, Judy enjoyed Harlequin romance books, General Hospital, card games (never failing to apologize for hitting someone with a Draw Four), word puzzles (daily Jumble player), and rooting for the Buckeyes. She loved being in the pool or on the beach, having vacationed in Sunset Beach, North Carolina every summer for many years. She believed deeply in helping others and never encountered a charity she didn’t contribute to.

She was at her happiest being her grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader and fan at all of their events, and experiencing Disney World, especially the It’s a Small World and Splash Mountain rides and seeing the Christmas Lights.

Judy was an endless source of light in this world and her smile and warm presence will be deeply missed, but her goodness and love will live on in all of her students, her treasured grandchildren, and everyone else who benefited from her immense heart.

Calling hours will take place at St. James Lutheran Church on Friday, October 31st from 6:00PM-8:00PM, and on Saturday November 1st from 2:00PM-3:00PM with a funeral service and reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the William’s Syndrome Association at https://www.williams-syndrome.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org.