Arnold Palmer, an American professional golfer, was the first superstar of the sport’s television age in 1950. Sadly, he lost his life while awaiting heart surgery shortly after his 87th birthday.
He cherished his time with his two wives, Kathleen Gawthrop and Winifred Walzer.
Highlights
- Arnold Palmer’s first wife, Winifred “Winnie” Walze, at 65, passed away due to complications from ovarian cancer.Â
- They had spent 45 years together, and Winnie traveled with him when he joined the pro tour in early 1955.
- After the tragic demise of Winnie, Arnold married Kathleen Gawthrop quietly on January 26, 2005.
Arnold Daniel Palmer, nicknamed “The King,” was among golf’s most popular stars. His career spanned six decades, and he won 62 PGA Tour titles from 1955 to 1973.
He learned to play golf from his father and attended Wake Forest College on a golf scholarship. He decided to turn pro after winning the 1954 U.S. Amateur in Detroit.
Arnold won the Canadian Open during his 1955 rookie season and established his position as one of the leading stars in golf, winning his first major championship at the 1958 Masters Tournament.
He was one of the 13 original inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974 and won the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.
Arnold Palmer’s First Wife, Winifred Walzer, Lost Her Life To Cancer
Professional golfer Arnold Palmer met his first wife, Winifred “Winnie” Walzer, while playing in the Waite Memorial tournament in Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pennsylvania.
He was on his way to a professional career when he met Winnie, who was studying at Brown University. In his autobiography, A Golfer’s Life, he wrote about their first meeting.
She is
— Rachel 🌸 (@Russtophocles1) April 4, 2023
Winnie Arnold Palmer wife pic.twitter.com/OSbit0RKJa
Winnie, the daughter of Martin Shubert Walzer and Mary Jeannette Walzer, was born on February 22, 1933. She grew up with her brother, John Flexer, in Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania.
Arnold married Winnie on December 20, 1954, and had two daughters, Peggy Palmer, born on February 26, 1956, and Amy Palmer, born on August 4, 1958.
The married couple spent 45 years together supporting each other, and Winifred often traveled with him when he joined the pro tour in early 1955.
I met him on Tuesday and he asked me to marry him on Saturday.
Winnie expressed.
Winnie focused on her charity work, raising money for health care programs and literacy.
Unfortunately, Winifred died at 65 due to complications from ovarian cancer. He was with her until she took her last breath on November 20, 1999.
Moreover, Arnold had three granddaughters, Emily, Katherine Anne, and Anne Palmer, and two grandsons, Samuel Palmer Saunders and William Gray Palmer Wears.
His grandson Sam Saunders followed in his footsteps and became a professional golfer. At 15, he won the Bay Hill club championship and attended Clemson University on a golf scholarship.
Later, he turned pro in 2008 and stated that Arnold’s family nickname is “Dumpy.”
Arnold Palmer’s Second Wife, Kathleen Gawthrop, Was A Longtime Friend
After Winifred “Winnie” Walzer’s passing, Arnolf Palmer married Kathleen Gawthrop on January 26, 2005. They married in an intimate, beachside ceremony on O’ahu, Hawai’i.Â
Their marriage was rushed; the only attendees were Arnold’s staff members.
Arnold Palmer second wife Kathleen picture https://t.co/SMRMrV8Rje pic.twitter.com/qc641a65LE
— infowe (@infowe) September 26, 2016
Arnold didn’t want any fuss for his second marriage and wished to do it on his terms quietly. Kathleen is a great lady, and they have known her for a long time.
She is previously married to Al Gawthrop Junior, the chairman of the Famous Pebble Beach golf course. Al Gawthrop passed away in August 2004.
They have three children: Al Gawthrop III, Lynn Bouck, and Blair Miller. She is also the grandmother of eight grandchildren.
Al Gawthrop graduated from the University of Colorado, Lynn is a personal trainer, and Blair works for an Emmy-award-winning TV production company.
Arnold’s daughter welcomed Kathleen, who is different than their mother, to their family.
I think they were so totally different, my mother and Kit. I think the companionship that Kit loves to watch sports, she loves to be at home and I think that’s really what my dad needs. I think he needed someone that enjoys the things he enjoys and I think that everybody embraced Kit in a way that I don’t think, I hope that she never felt that there was this looming presence of my mother.
Amy Palmer explained.
Kathleen was a golfer, but her back injury forced her to stop playing.
Nonetheless, Arnold Palmer was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in his hometown, Latrobe Country Club.
His estate, valued at $875 million, was divided between his two daughters and second wife. Likewise, his charity, Arnie’s Army, received $10 million, and eight employees received $25,000 each.
Additional Information
- Arnold Palmer, the son of Doris Morrison and Milfred Jerome “Deacon” Palmer, was born on September 10, 1929, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
- His charisma was a significant factor in establishing golf as a compelling television event in the 1950s, setting the stage for its popularity.
- He was chairman of the Board of The Golf Channel and was inducted into the Citation Jet Pilots Hall of Honor in 2014.
- He was admitted to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center three days earlier to undergo testing on his heart but lost his life on September 25, 2016.
