John W. Turner

John W. Turner, 95, of Oklahoma City passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2009. He was born June 19, 1914 in Bismark, N. Dakota to Col. Frederick Hays Turner and Edna Griffith Turner.

He married Ella Mae Williams in Clinton, OK on December 3, 1938. John was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Reserve in 1937 and was called to active duty later that year. He commanded a Civilian Conservation Corps Company for three years before he was ordered to duty with the US Army Air Corps in August,1941. He served his country in many capacities, but was proudest of earning his wings as a glider pilot in 1943. After the war, he remained in the Air Force until his retirement in 1960. John stayed on with the Air Force as a civilian employee for 20 years.

He married Betty Ann Wimer Renegar on June 3, 1975 in Oklahoma City. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Robert, his sister Tally, his first wife Ella Mae Turner, his second wife Betty Ann Turner, and his daughters Sarah Louise Turner and Jan Turner Lauber.

He is survived by his daughter Dorothy Turner Landphair and her husband Harry N. Landphair of Leawood, Kansas, his daughter Laura Turner Gage and her husband Colin C. Gage of Kansas City, Missouri, his grandsons Charles Van Duser of Kansas City, Missouri, John Van Duser of Minot, North Dakota, Todd Lauber of Denver, Colorado, Donald T. Landphair of Nashville, Tennessee, his granddaughters Carolyn Genier of Mechanicsville, New York, Jennifer Mascari of Las Vegas, Nevada, and eleven great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his stepchildren Jeanne Ann Paul; Betty Ruth Hensley, and her husband J.T.; and Charles (Chuck) Cook, and his wife Blanca; all of Oklahoma City.

He was a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church where services will be held on Friday, October 2, 2009 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Silent Wings Museum, 6202 N. Interstate Highway 27, Lubbock, Texas 79403 in memory of Major John W. Turner.