Louise Blankenship Palmer

Click here to watch Livestream

On Monday, June 13, 2022, Marian Louise Blankenship Palmer, a kind and loving soul, went home to be with The Lord at the age of 93.  Louise, “Lukie” as most called her, was born in North Wilkesboro, NC on February 1, 1929, to Beech and Estella Blankenship. She was the next to youngest of 6 children. In her later years, Louise often reminded her grandchildren that she was a “city” girl, because of the fact that she was born and raised in downtown North Wilkesboro. 

Her family home was located near the corner of 9th and D Street, until it burned down on December 25, 1941. The fire was started by a kitchen accident, and led to the death ofher beloved mother. After this event, she lived upstairs at her father’s restaurant “Beech’s Place” that was located on 10th Street in North Wilkesboro, which is now home to Roselli’s Italian restaurant. 

At the age of 17, Louise met the love of her life Wade Palmer, while working at her brother Harold’s restaurant, “City Café” on Main Street in North Wilkesboro. At this time, Wade’s parents owned and operated “City Florist”, also on Main Street, and he had just gotten home from World War II, where his older brother Lloyd died in The Battle Of The Bulge, and he himself was critically wounded while fighting with the 36th Infantry Division in Marseille, France. 

Louise and Wade were best friends who worked their entire lives together, working at and later managing City Florist in North Wilkesboro, where they designed flower arrangements, decorated for weddings, holidays, and more. They were happily married until his death in May of 2009. 

The only love that was stronger than Louise’ love for other people was her love for The Lord. She was a member of Union United Methodist Church on Curtis Bridge Road in the Cricket community for many years, where she enjoyed singing in the choir.  Aside from her work at City Florist, Louise enjoyed singing, dancing, holidays, family reunions, and Sunday drives. She also enjoyed cooking for her family, and was known for making the best fried chicken and gravy, homemade banana pudding, coconut cakes, and Martha Washington candy. Nothing pleased Louise more than spending time with family, and spreading joy to those around her. 

She was a fan of Elvis Presley, John Wayne, The Price Is Right, Little House On The Prairie, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Walker Texas Ranger, The Lawrence Welk Show, Charles Stanley, the Atlanta Braves, Tom Glavine, dogs, ice cream, and chicken sandwiches. 

Louise was preceded in death by her parents Beech and Estella, her husband Wade, and all of her siblings: Bea, Harold (who started Harold’s restaurant on 115), Wayne (who ran Wayne’s Bait And Tackle on 268), Helen and Andy Andrews of Mt. Airy, NC, and Mack Blankenship of Greensboro, NC.  

She was the beloved mother of her only son, Steve Palmer and his wife Ann of North Wilkesboro; the loving grandmother of Wade Palmer, Andrew Palmer and his wife Casey, all of North Wilkesboro, and Laura Parker and her husband Billy, of Statesville, NC. She had one great-granddaughter, Evie Ann Parker. 

A celebration of life service will be held 2:00 PM Friday, June, 17, 2022 at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in North Wilkesboro with Rev. Michael Brinegar and Dr. Raddy Blankenship officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 until 2:00 PM prior to the service at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. Burial will be at Mountlawn Memorial Park.   

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Louise Blankenship Palmer, please visit our floral store.