Roger Edward Palmer

Roger Edward Palmer, 86, of Chapel Hill, NC passed away peacefully on January 28, 2026.

Roger was born in Lenoir, NC to Virginia and Edward Palmer on March 27,1939. The oldest of 5 siblings, he moved to Charlotte as a child, graduated from West Mecklenburg High School, received an Associate’s Degree from Charlotte College, and a Bachelor’s in Chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar.

After graduation, he served honorably in the US Army for 3 years. He then worked as a Special Agent in the FBI from 1964 until his retirement in 1989. He was primarily a forensic scientist in the Washington, D.C. lab. After retirement, he taught as a substitute high school teacher for 30 years, primarily at Olympic High School in Charlotte.

Roger was a dedicated Christian who learned, taught and served throughout his life, including many years at both Good Shepherd United Methodist in Dale City, VA and Steele Creek Presbyterian in Charlotte, NC. He loved to play softball, was an avid runner, and was a dedicated UNC basketball fan. He also had a passion for genealogy and understanding his family’s history.

A gentleman of great character, he is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Jane; his children Andrew (Susie) Palmer of Memphis TN, Jonathan (Amie) Palmer of Durham NC, and 6 adored grandchildren: Jacob, Serena, Isaac, Zachary, Daniel, and Roselyn.

A celebration of Roger’s life will be held at the Lecture Hall at Carolina Meadows on Feb. 22 at 3PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to : Parkinson’s Research Foundation, PO Box 96138 Washington DC 20090-6318 (https://parkinsonhope.org)