Charles H. Palmer was born in Denver, Colorado, June 12 1929. He flew west into a beautiful sunset for his last big adventure as he called it, on November 17, 2021.It seems he was born with a special gene for fast transportation. It started with rollerskating in his pre-teens. It was a lifelong passion for the sport of artistic skating well into his 70’s. He developed his love for fast automobiles at a young age by becoming a member of the Denver Timing Association where members proudly presented their Hot Rods. Charlie showed up with his “Barn Find”, a 32 Ford Roadster. He converted it to a fast automobile which took honors at Bonneville, the fastest speedway on the Utah Salt Flats.
After graduating from East Denver High in 1947, Charlie found work at a Ford Dealership in Denver. He worked his way up to parts manager when the Army called him for active duty in January 1952, prior to having enlisted in the USNR in June 1948 and was discharged in June 1954. He was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Denver. He was trained as an airplane mechanic. It was here that Charlie discovered what he wanted to do with the rest of his professional life. He took flying lessons whenever he could. Eventually he had earned a commercial license. The Spartan School of Aeronautics and Technology was the next step in his career. He had the good fortune to hire on with Pan Am. He put in 32 years of service as a flight engineer until the company declared bankruptcy. Charlie flew worldwide, starting with the DC-6 all the way up to the 747. His home base was New York. In November 1963 Pan Am sent him to Berlin to fly the IGS, the Inter German Service. It was here that Charlie met his future wife Inge. They were happily married for 56 years without children. After just a few months in Berlin Charlie took the opportunity to relocate to San Francisco, a base of operation that was highly prized. They made their home in Belmont, close to the airport. From June 1971 to 73 they were lured back to Berlin. Charlie and “Shady” Espenshade, the chief flight engineer, were building a popular biplane, the Starduster, from a kit in their spare time. All had to be done in secret because Berlin was still a divided city under the command of the Allied Forces and building airplanes was a No – No.The garage in which this verboten activity took place, was widely known as the bicycle shop. Espenshade managed to finally get permission from the American Commander to test fly the Starduster.
After returning to the US, Charlie and Inge settled in Scotts Valley, California. It wasn’t too long before Charlie bought a beautiful Beech Bonanza C-35. The love for airplanes and fast transportation came together. As if this was not enough for speed, he fulfilled a life-long dream and became a race car driver. Charlie was racing his Formula Ford Crossle in Laguna Seca and Sears Point.
When age started to slow Charlie down a bit, he and Inge became enthusiastic Concourse winners with their 1971 911 Targa Porsche which was purchased out of the showroom window at the Porsche Dealership in Berlin.
Over the years friendships with fellow Pan Am’ers were formed and maintained and the same with our Porsche concourse competitors. Charlie had the capacity to engage fully with life, embrace it and enjoy it almost to the end. He made his final flight and flew away to his peaceful and final resting place at age 92.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.