SOUTH PARIS — Howard Walter Palmer Jr., 90, of Norway, died Friday, May 4, at the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris, surrounded by his family.

He was born in Norway on Jan. 26, 1928, the son of Odile (Roy) and Howard W. Palmer. He grew up there and attended Norway schools. He met the love of his life, Bernice (Perkins), and they were married in 1947.

One of his first jobs was driving a pulp truck for George Newcomb. He served in the U.S. Army as part of the Medical Corps during World War II. While Howard worked his full-time job at Western Auto on Main Street, Norway, he continued to work nights and weekends with his wife, remodeling old buildings, turning them into apartment rentals. Working hard and long hours were part of his DNA.

In 1973, he left Western Auto at which time he started managing Schiavi Mobile Homes, a sales lot in Oxford, expanding the company to multiple locations and becoming the largest dealer in New England. His experience and success in the mobile home sales fostered his dream of having his own mobile home park. In realization of his dream, in 1970 he established Town and Country Mobile Home Park Inc. If he complained it wasn’t because he was exhausted, but that he didn’t get more done.

In the mid-1970s he bought Ledgewood Motel with his wife and son, operating the business and all the while improving the mobile home park. In the mid-1980s he sold the motel and devoted his full attention and efforts into Town and Country Mobile Home Village always expanding and improving it.

Although he worked hard, he also took time for his friends and family. Howard and his wife enjoyed square dancing, playing cards, and traveling in their motor home.

While wintering in Florida, they purchased Oak Bend Village in Dunnellon, Fla., another mobile home community, in 1996 and lived there, turning it into a 100-unit park. In 2007, being aged and declining health, they wanted to come home to Norway, so they sold the park in Florida and moved back to Norway into Town and Country Mobile Home Village. Here he spent his remaining years, where he never stopped being concerned with the activities and business of the park, the park he was so proud of and that he built.

Howard is survived by his wife, Bernice, of 70 years; two sons, Howard (Howie) and longtime girlfriend, Nancy Voisine, and Perry Palmer; daughter-in-law, Susan Palmer; three grandchildren, Lisa Palmer and boyfriend, Daniel Murray of Dunnellon, Fla., Jennifer Palmer and Karen Palmer of Norway.

He was predeceased by his parents.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.

Howard W. Palmer Jr.

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