C. Palmer Zigmund, 77, of Bethlehem, gently passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, in Lehigh Valley Hospital - Muhlenberg, Bethlehem.  He was the husband of Lois (Levering/Bruch) for 36 years.  He was predeceased by his parents Charles and Emma (Palmer) Zigmund and his daughter Robyn (Zigmund) Cecchini.  He bravely fought many illnesses the past four years.  Palmer retired from BB&T Bank as Senior Vice President and previously was a principal and Senior Vice President of Lehigh Valley Trust Company.  He retired in 1996 as SVP/Director of Personal Trust at First Valley Bank after 22 years.  He began his banking career as a Trust Business Development Officer at Girard Bank, now Mellon Bank in Philadelphia.  In earlier years, he was an Insurance Agent for Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. and an Advertising Sales Representative for the New York Daily News after graduating from Lehigh University with a BA in Finance  in 1962.  He served in the Army National Guard.  Palmer also graduated from National Graduate Trust School at Northwestern University, and was a Certified Financial Services Counselor and Advisor.

Palmer was very active in various charitable organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley. He was a member and Past President of the Estate Planning Council of the Lehigh Valley, past Board member and President of the Children's Home of Easton, Board member of Family Counseling Services, member of the Planned Giving Committee of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, Board member of the Foundation of Muhlenberg Hospital, Treasurer and Board member of the State Theater Center for the Arts, Trustee for the Charles B. Degenstein Foundation, Past Present of the Country Club of Northampton County, member of the former Bethlehem Club, Chair of the Planned Giving Committee of Phoebe Ministries, and served on the Planned Giving Committee of the Weller Center.

He was a faithful alumni of Lehigh and an avid wrestling fan following the team on many away matches. Palmer was honored to receive the George F.A. Stutz '22 Alumni Award, the Robert A. Harrier Reunion Award for his exemplary service as the General Reunion Co-Chair of Lehigh University and the Alumni Award from his class of 1962. He and Lois are members of the Tower Society and the ASA Packer Society at Lehigh. Palmer also served as Treasurer of the Lehigh Wrestling Club. An avid golfer before retirement, he would often be found on the course at the Country Club entertaining clients or playing in tournaments.  Palmer loved traveling; he and Lois took many trips to their favorite destination of Hawaii. They also enjoyed going to Pearl Harbor to see their granddaughters,  Emily and then Brooke, play in the Liberty High School Grenadier Band for the 70 ^th and 75th Anniversaries of Pearl Harbor. A  devoted grandfather,  he followed his four granddaughters during their softball years, attending most of their games and tournaments.

In addition to his wife, Lois, Palmer is survived by a son, Todd and his wife Rose; step-son, Wayne Bruch; son-in-law, William Cecchini, all of Bethlehem, and granddaughters, Emily and Sarah Cecchini, and Brooke and Paige Zigmund.

A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 31, in Light of Christ Lutheran Church (formerly Messiah Lutheran Church).  Family and friends are welcome to call Wednesday from 3:30 until 4:45 p.m. in the church.  Arrangements, Pearson Funeral Home, Bethlehem.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Palmer's name may be sent to Light of Christ Church, 2020 Worthington  Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017,  the Children's Home of Easton, 2000 S. 25th Street, Easton, PA 18042,  or Lehigh Wrestling Club, c/o Lehigh University Alumni Association, 125 Goodman Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015.

Online condolences may be sent to pearsonfh.com.