Command Sergeant Major Kenneth G. Turner
Command Sergeant Major Kenneth G. Turner (United States Army Retired), age 86, of Hopwood, Pa., passed away Thursday,… Command Sergeant Major Kenneth G. Turner (United States Army Retired), age 86, of Hopwood, Pa., passed away Thursday, May 10, 2007, in the Uniontown Hospital, Uniontown, Pa.
He was born May 3, 1921, in Ohiopyle, Stewart Township, Pa., the son of Frank G. Turner and Bertha A. (Lee) Turner.
He graduated from the former Ohiopyle High School, Class of 1940.
CSM Turner began his military career on August 17, 1942. During World War II, he saw action in Europe with the 512th Engr. Pon. Company and served with them in CONUS and in Scotland, England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
Following his discharge in 1945, he worked various positions until 1948 when he chose to re-enter the United States Army where he served during the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.
After a distinguished and decorated military career, he chose to retire from the military service on December 31, 1971.
He relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, and accepted the position of Property Management Supervisor with the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, where he remained until his final retirement on December 31, 1983.
He was a member of the Hopwood Free Methodist Church and the following military and civic organizations: the Vietnam Veterans of Fayette County, Life Member and Past Commander of the American Legion Post 1, Raleigh, North Carolina, Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 47 in Uniontown, Pa., Life Member of The National Association of Uniformed Service, the Retired Enlisted Association, Retired Sergeant Major Association, Voiture 620 of the 40 & 8 of North Carolina, the General George C. Marshall AMVETS Post 103 in Hopwood, the AARP, I.O.O.F. Lodge 814 in Confluence, Pa., the Mountain Citizens Action Group of Farmington, Pa., the Appalachian Mountain Square Dancers and the AUSA.
He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, Warren and Harold, and four sisters, Mary Dean Shipley, Lorraine Cutright and infants Dora and Leah.
Surviving are his wife, Thelma Luckey Lewis Turner; three children: Bernadine and her husband, Louis Tombs, of Newberry, Florida, Robert Turner of Interlachen, Florida, and Brenda Blake of Gainesville, Florida; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren all of Gainesville, Florida; one brother, David Turner of Uniontown, Pa.; three sisters: Verna Wise and Mable Ridley both of Lemont Furnace, Pa., and Nancy Johnson and her husband, Ted, of Newport News, Virginia; two step-daughters: Ellen Brown and her husband, Douglas, and Wilma Haragos and her husband, Tom, of Hopwood; five step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandsons all of Hopwood; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends will be received in the DONALD R. CRAWFORD FUNERAL HOME, Hopwood, Pa., today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Visitation will continue Tuesday, May 15, in the HOPWOOD FREE METHODIST CHURCH from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., the hour of the Service with Pastor Charles O’Brian officiating.
Interment will follow in Sylvan Heights Cemetery, Uniontown, Pa.
The General George C. Marshall AMVETS Post 103, Hopwood, will conduct Military Services at graveside.
Vietnam Veterans Inc. of Fayette County will hold Services in the Funeral Home this evening at 7:30 p.m.
Visitation was also held on Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m.