Woman Leaves $14.5M Bequest to Lutheran Ministries

Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, which operates several senior and assisted living facilities in Philadelphia, will split a $14.5 million bequest from the widow of Frank R. Palmer, the former president and CEO of Carpenter Technology Corp. 

Helen Nicholson Palmer died in 2012, and now more than $7.2 of her bequest will go to Diakon with the remainder going to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. 

William Swanger, senior vice president of corporate communications and public relations for Diakon, said Helen Palmer had a lifelong commitment to the Lutheran Home of Topton, which Diakon operates.  The nonprofit is currently determining where the money will be spent.  “We are deeply grateful for this bequest and for the forethought Mrs. Palmer exhibited in making such a generous contribution to our services.”

See Stacy Wescoe, Diakon to Split $14.5M Bequest With Phila. Seminary, LVB.com, March 11, 2015.