Diane Jennette Palmer

On the morning of Thursday, July 13, 2023, Diane Jennette Jacobson Palmer passed away at the age of 58 after fighting a courageous battle with glioblastoma, brain cancer. Born in St. Joseph, Michigan on March 1, 1965, Diane was the daughter of Billie Jacobson and Richard Jacobson. Her family moved to California when she was two years old.

Diane graduated from Tustin High School in the class of 1983. While in high school, she played on the school’s basketball and softball teams. She also played softball while attending Saddleback College. At the age of five, she met her best buddy, Linda Edwards. They have been lifelong friends and spent many fun times together.

In 1984, Diane met her future husband, Jim Palmer at the College and Career church group at Voyagers Bible Church in Irvine, California. They started dating in the late summer of 1986. They became engaged in 1987 and were married on May 22, 1988. On April 22,1992, they had their only child, a beautiful daughter named Christine while living in Oceanside, California. Diane loved being a mom. Living in Oceanside afforded her many opportunities to spend time with Christine at the beach. Many great memories were made while living there. Years later, she treasured being a Mema to her grandchildren, Lainey, Rylan and Sylas. They loved their Mema.

In 1986, she joined the Air Force Reserves. She trained for and became a security police officer based out of March Air Force Base in Riverside, California. In 1991, her unit was called up for active duty during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Her responsibility was to guard and protect the Air Force jets in Saudi Arabia. She was very proud of her military service and became a veteran of the Gulf War.

Diane worked various jobs in the insurance industry, but her passion was computers/technology. Prior to moving to Lakeland, Florida in 2001, she worked at Vortex Data Systems based in San Diego, California. After moving to Florida, she worked briefly at Geico and then spent many years at Perpetual Technology Solutions. Her last and most fulfilling job was being a system analyst with Watson Clinic. She was instrumental in developing their patient portal, My Chart by Epic. She loved her job and was proud of the work she did for the clinic.

Diane is survived by her husband, Jim and daughter, Christine (Tyson) and grandchildren, Lainey, Rylan and Sylas. She is also survived by her sisters, Sue, Nancy and Linda, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 12th at 10am at St. Paul Lutheran in Lakeland, Fl. Military honors and a reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, Diane requested that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Please send donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN 38105.