PALMER, Olga

Olga Palmer, age 80, a resident of Scottsdale, passed away January 3, 2006. She was born to Jaroslav and Huberta Skala in Prague, Czechoslovakia. She had a long and happy marriage to Gerald Palmer, a native of Arizona, whom she met while working as an interpreter for the U.S. Army in Plsen, Czechoslovakia, at the close of World War II. She came to the United States in 1946 and settled in Arizona, where her children, Kim and Michael, were born. Her father, Jaroslav Skala, former commander of the Czech Air Force and a decorated pilot, and her mother joined Olga and her family in Arizona in 1949. For many years, she and Gerry lived and worked on ranches in Arizona, in Willcox and later on the Agua Linda ranch in Amado. She did extensive volunteer work with the Red Cross in Phoenix and was active in the arts wherever she lived. Throughout her life, she kept in touch with friends and family all over the world. She was loved and appreciated by all and she will be missed. She was preceded in death by her husband and her son Michael. She is survived by her daughter Kim Shetter, of Palo Alto, California, and her grandchildren Sarah Shetter, of Los Angeles, and Drew Shetter, of Seattle. Arrangements by Messinger Mortuary. Published in The Arizona Republic on 1/7/2006.