The Reverend Barbara L. Palmer passed away at her home in Bethlehem at the age of 69 on July 14th following a terminal diagnosis in March of this year. She was born in 1957 at the Army hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, to Paul and Ingrid Carter (formerly Heinrichsmeier) and has four siblings – Monica, Debbie, Earl, and Duane.

She married Steven Palmer on the date of his graduation from the Air Force Academy in 1975. He subsequently took a commission in the Marine Corps, and she spent the next five years as a Marine wife. Together they had four children, currently ranging in ages from 48 to 31 – Daniel, Matthew, Samuel, and Rebekah. There are currently eight grandchildren, with another scheduled to arrive in the fall.

The family moved to Bethlehem in 1991 to pioneer a new church, and Barbara also founded a Christian school, grades K-12, in 1998. Barbara and Steven have served together in ordained ministry for the past 40 years. She co-pastored the church (which still is in operation) and was the principal of the school for 28 years. For 25 of those years, she worked full or part time outside the church/school in order to support the ministry and maintain the lowest tuition rates of any private school in New Hampshire.

Spiritually, she was highly qualified, possessing a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies, a Master’s degree in Theology, and a Doctorate in Ministry along with her many years of ministry and teaching experience.

A Memorial Celebration of Her Life will be held at Bethlehem Christian Center, 1858 Maple Street in Bethlehem, Tuesday,  July 21, at 12 PM. Memorial donations may be made to the home church which she co-founded and served for 35 years, Bethlehem Christian Center, P.O. Box 303, Bethlehem, NH 03574.