Shirley Marie Palmos, 80

SECRETARY - Shirley Marie Palmos, formerly of Kennett Square, Pa., died on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, in Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge, after a long and brave struggle with cancer. She was 80. Born in Waco, Texas on Oct. 7, 1928, she was the daughter of the late William Roland Pardo and Lucille Williamson Pardo, and the wife of the late George Bill Palmos Jr. with whom she shared 48 years of marriage. Along with her husband George, they owned and operated Kennett Insurance Services, Inc., retiring in 1989. From Kennett Square, Pa., they moved to Secretary after their retirement. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, fishing, dancing, visiting with, and cooking for family and friends. In addition to her parents, husband and son, she was preceded in death by a brother, Roland Pardo. She is survived by two sons, William Paul Palmos and his wife Sherry Lynn of Oxford, Pa., and George Bill Palmos III and his wife Carol of Kennett Square, Pa.; Brenda Hershey, life partner of her late son, Robert R. Palmos, of Toughkenamon, Pa.; three grandchildren, Jonathan E. Palmos of New Cumberland, Pa., and Natashyia S. Palmos of Nottingham, Pa., and Jessica McGeehan of Princeton Junction, N.J.; two great-grandchildren, Damian E. Arreola Palmos, and Declan Patrick McGeehan, and was awaiting the arrival of two additional great-grandchildren; one sister, Stella Gordon of Conroe, Texas; two brothers, Adrian Pardo of Alvin, Texas and John R. Pardo of College Station, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Zeller Funeral Home in East New Market, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, and one hour prior to the service on Friday. Rev. George Hufnagel will officiate. Burial will follow in Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Beulah. Messages of memory and hope may be sent to Paul and George Palmos, 706 E. Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square, PA 19348. Donations in memory of Mrs. Palmos may be made to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 163, Salisbury, MD 21803; or to Habitat For Humanity of Talbot and Dorchester Counties, P.O. Box 2366, Easton, MD 21601.