Palmer Van Dyke

Palmer Toy Van Dyke, a Lab retiree, died, Sept. 28, at Mark Twain Convalescent Hospital. He was 76.

Born Aug. 14, 1933, in Sioux City, Iowa, he lived in Southern California until 1980, when he moved to Northern California. He worked as a technical writer and editor for the Lab for 10 years. He lived in Murphys for 15 years.

He graduated from the University of Southern California with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy. He served in the U.S. Army.

He helped the Murphys Library get a book inventory online and was a docent for the Murphys Old Timers Museum and Big Trees State Park. He had an passion for books.

He is survived by his daughter, Vickie Stone of Rancho Santa Margarita; sister, Nancy Van Dyke Dickson of Mount Vernon, Wash.; and grandchildren, Lauren and Joshua Toy Maurere.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Murphys Library, P.O. Box 702, Murphys, CA 95247, or Murphys Old Timers Museum, P.O. Box 94, Murphys, CA 95247.