Rupert Dewitt Palmer

Rupert DeWitt Palmer of Bryan, passed away January 14, 2019. Rupert was born at home January 28, 1929 in Winston County Mississippi to James Thomas Palmer and Coley Ree (Miles) Palmer. He holds an AA in Agriculture from East Central Junior College 1949, a BS in agricultural administration 1952, and a MS in Agronomy 1954 from Mississippi State University and a PhD in Botany from Louisiana State University 1959.

He met and was married to Reida Wilkie White August 22, 1954. They had a candle light ceremony at Ethel Baptist Church. They walked the pathway of life hand in hand for 62 years.
Rupert was stationed in the US Army Medical Corps at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. His name is listed on the Wall of Honor in Veterans Park, College Station, TX.

He was employed in 1959 to 1966 by Mississippi State University as a Plant Physiologist in the Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station. He taught undergraduate and graduate courses as Associate Professor of Agronomy (Weed Science). He was major professor for graduate students in weed science. He was awarded the FAA State Farmer in Mississippi for his teaching vocational agricultural teachers weed control methods and weed identification.

He was an Extension Weed Specialist from 1966 to his retirement in 1989 with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University. He enrolled in rangeland resource management at Texas A&M, and other staff short courses. He was elected to Gamma Sigma Delta, the honor society of agriculture. At his retirement January 31, 1989 the plaque contained the message “In honor of his untiring effort in identifying and recoding weeds of Texas and his service to Texas Agriculture”.

Rupert was an avid golfer who shot his age a number of times, was active in the Men’s golf association, and applied his background to improving the condition of then Briarcrest Country Club.

Rupert was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Reida; his brothers Haron and Joel; and his sisters Frances R. Humphries and Merry Z. Rainey.

He is survived by his son Robert T. Palmer and wife Lorraine; his daughter Regina P. Wheaton and husband William; his grandchildren, Alexander W. Wheaton, Alison R Wheaton, Ramsey E. Palmer, Robert T. Palmer, Jr., and Reanna E. Palmer; his brothers, James O. Palmer and Pettus T. Palmer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Rupert’s life will be honored in a family ceremony at Hillier Funeral Home of Bryan with Bill Wiman from the First Baptist Church in Bryan, TX to officiate. Rupert will be laid to rest in Aggie Field of Honor beside his beloved wife.

Family requests that in lieu of flowers, a Memorial Donation to First Baptist Church in Bryan given.