Arnold Daniel Palmer, one of golf’s most popular stars, married twice in his lifetime, but his longest marriage was with his first wife, Winifred ‘Winnie’ Walzer, which lasted for exactly 45 years.
Winifred was just 19 years old, studying interior design at Brown’s University, when she crossed paths with her then-future husband, Plamer, in the Pocono Mountains in 1954 during Fred Waring’s annual golf tournament.
Throwback Thursday: The late Arnold Palmer and his first wife, Winnie at a golf tournament here at Shawnee! #tbt pic.twitter.com/skyadlODYp
— The Shawnee Inn (@ShawneeInn) July 6, 2017
Within four days of their first meeting, golfer Arnold proposed to Winnie for marriage. Regarding the matter, she once said,
I met him on Tuesday; he asked me to marry him on Saturday
Via CBS News
The same year, the young couple tied the knot and led their marriage gracefully for the next 45 years. They welcomed two beautiful daughters, Peggy Palmer and Amy Palmer, from their companionship and raised them together.
But, unfortunately, their togetherness ended in the middle of their marital journey after Winnie succumbed to d*ath in 1999 at age 65 after a long battle with Ovarian Cancer. She was diagnosed with the illness the same day her husband Arnold survived prostate cancer.
In an exclusive talk with Vault, he remembered his wife and said,
I had finally gotten a clean bill of health on my prostate cancer when we got a call that now Winnie had cancer. That was in late October, in 1998. We always thought she was going to make it, right up to the end.
Via Vault
Arnold further stated,
She was so strong. She had so much faith. We set up a hospital room for her in our home in Latrobe.
An amazing woman and the guiding light of the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, today we're celebrating Winnie Palmer — and all of the moms out there. Happy Mothers Day everyone! #MothersDay #thanksmom pic.twitter.com/0LamMTjZWL
— Arnold Palmer (@ArnoldPalmer) May 10, 2020
Despite all those attempts, Winnie couldn’t win her battle with illness but was courageous enough to motivate her husband, saying, ‘Get on with your life,’ even in her worst condition. According to Arnold Palmer, his wife even planned her funeral.
Winnie had written out her own funeral service, what music she wanted played, what prayers read. Turns out, she had done all that planning a year before she died.
Well, he rarely used to talk about his deceased wife, and whenever somebody mentioned her, it wouldn’t take a second for him to get teary eyes.
Despite such intense grief, he eventually moved on after some years, walking down the aisle with his second wife, Kathleen Gawthrop, in his 70s.
Arnold Palmer and His Second Wife, Kathleen, Had an Intimate Wedding at Oahu’s North Shore
At age 76, Arnold Palmer once again said ‘I do’ to Kathleen Gawthrop, who rejuvenated his spirit. Suddenly, the now-late golfer started feeling youthful after his second wife entered his life.
A day after marrying Kathleen in an intimate beachside ceremony on Oahu’s North Shore, Arnold interacted with the media and said he felt like a 25-year-old.
Further, he had praised his new bride, saying,
She’s a great lady. I’ve known her for a long time. We’ve been engaged for some time and dated before that. She’s just very special.
Via Golf Today
While talking about their honeymoon, Arnold Palmer expressed his desire to prolong it for another 10 to 15 years, and that’s exactly what happened.
The two remained together for 11 years until the great golfer passed away on September 25, 2016, at age 87. His wife Kathleen and his two daughters survived him.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Arnold Palmer was born to his parents Doris and Milfred Jerome “Deacon” Palmer on September 10, 1929, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
- Reports say he had four granddaughters, two grandsons, and nine great-grandchildren at the time of his passing.
- His second wife has three children” son Al Gawthrop III and daughters Lynn Bouck and Blair Miller from her previous marriage.
