Captain (Ret.) Vincent James DePalmer

Vincent James DePalmer, 91, of Manchester, passed away on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Carroll Hospital Center. Born on April 30, 1935 in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the son of the late Anthony Michael DePalmer and Mary Ida Gentile DePalmer. He was the husband of Patricia Griffith.

Vince graduated from Manchester High School in 1953. After graduation, he worked for Black & Decker in Hampstead until joining the United States Air Force in July 1957. Upon graduation from Air Force flying school, he was assigned to the 347th Troop Carrier Wing at Pope Field in Fayetteville, N.C. as a navigator. He completed twenty years in the USAF as a navigator in C-119, C-123, and C-130 aircraft. He served five years as a Titan II Missile Combat Crew Commander at McConnell AFB in Wichita, KS, and served in Vietnam as a crew member of Ranch Hand. He was a member of the Maryland Air National Guard, instructing crew members on procedures to defend in nuclear, chemical, and biological attacks.

He was passionate about serving his community as a volunteer. He was the Founder and President of the Manchester and then North Carroll Rec Council for fifteen years, and President of the North Carroll Jaycees, Charlotte’s Quest Nature Center, and Lineboro-Manchester Lions Club. He organized several community gatherings such as sports tournaments, American flag displays, and dinners to benefit all of these organizations. In his later years, he built two bocce ball courts in his front yard and held several bocce tournaments for over twelve years to benefit many local non-profit organizations. He was also a well-loved coach of baseball, basketball, softball and Special Olympics bocce ball.

Nothing was more important to him than gathering with family. He was the creator of many family memories and traditions, such as learning to make ravioli and making Italian Christmas cookies together each year.

He was a huge fan of bluegrass music, Hank Williams Sr., Andrea Bocelli, the original Celtic Women, and Turner Classic Movies.

Surviving in addition to his wife are his four children: daughters Susan Fowble and Lynne (John) Sneeringer, and sons Brigadier General (Ret.) Steven (Sheila) DePalmer and James (Nola) DePalmer, ten grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings: Tony DePalmer and Anita Gates.

He was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Eugene DePalmer.

The family will receive visitors on Friday, May 29, from 5-8 pm, at the ECKHARDT FUNERAL CHAPEL, P.A., 3296 Charmil Drive, Manchester, MD.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, May 30, at 10 am, at St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church, 2930 Hanover Pike, Manchester, MD.

Inurnment to follow in New Lutheran Cemetery, Manchester, MD.