TOPEKA — Tom Richard Turner, 76, 607 S. Main St., P.O. Box 503, died Thursday at 1:05 p.m. at his home. He had been ill with lung cancer for the past two years.
He was born June 23, 1932 in Sturgis, Mich., to William “Bill” and May (Troyer) Turner. He came to this area in 1969 from Waukegan, Ill.
He graduated from Topeka High School in 1950 and served in the United States Navy as a medic for four years. He graduated from Purdue University School of Pharmacy in 1959.
He last worked as a pharmacist at Walmart from 1991 to May 2008. Prior to that, he was vice president of Tite Lok, Topeka, from 1978-1990. He worked at Abbott Laboratories in the Chicago area for 10 years and in 1969 became owner of Turner Pharmacy where he was the head pharmacist.
He was a member of Rho Chi Society in 1959, LaGrange County Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission from 1980-1990; lifetime member of the LaGrange American Legion and Purdue Alumni Association, Eden Worship Center and Topeka Baptist Church.
He married Loretta Witt in 1953; they divorced. He married Sharon Zook Dec. 31, 1984 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She survives.
Also surviving are four daughters, Debra J. (Earl) Saxman, Matthews, N.C., Kari A. (Jay) Shannon, West Memphis, Ark., Nichole M. (Dan) Orvin, Charleston, S.C., and Heather D. (Mike) Antal, Topeka; two sons, Scott T. (Judy) Turner, Moline, Ill., and Stewart A. (Jackie) Bender, Topeka; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a niece, Jamie Thompson, Beaver, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father and one brother, Bill Turner, who died in 2007.
Friends may call Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Eden Worship Center, 4095 S. 900 West, Topeka, where the funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The Rev. Harold Gingerich of the church will lead the service.
Serving as pallbearers will be Ben Burkel, Bob McAleer, Mike Troyer, John Troyer, Mike Delucenay and Vernon Yoder.
Burial will be in Eden Cemetery, Topeka, where members of the American Legion will honor him for his military service in the Navy.
Memorials may be made to the Goshen Center for Cancer Care or to Goshen Care at Home Hospice.
Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, is assisting with arrangements. Condolences may be sent to yoderculpfuneralhome. com.
Obituaries
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January 23, 2009
Tom Richard Turner
June 23, 1932-Jan. 22, 2009
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