Bill Turner

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Bill Turner, 94, died in his home Saturday, January 15, 2022.

William Maynard Turner was born December 12, 1927, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, the son of William Oscar Turner and Nellie Marie (Roche) Turner, and moved to Newtonia shortly afterward.

Bill graduated from Midway High School in 1945 and worked for a brief time at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City before returning to Newtonia, where he lived the remainder of his life.

He married Jo Ann Clark August 8, 1951. They recently celebrated their 70th anniversary. They had three children, Vicki (Chuck) Dolezilek, Aurora, Colorado; Randy Turner, Joplin, and Kelly Turner, Springfield.

 

Bill worked at Neosho Nurseries, Stark City Farmers Co-op and Teledyne. During a Teledyne layoff in the 1970s, Bill took classes in appliance repair, read everything he could find on the subject and opened Bill’s Appliance Service, operating out of his home workshop.

Not only was Bill able to bring in money during the layoff, but he continued the business for the next 40 years, repairing everything from toasters to washing machines.

Bill served on the Newtonia City Council and helped manage Newtonia IOOF Cemetery and was always available to make repairs on the community building. He and Jo Ann were honored as grand marshals of the Newtonia Fall Festival Parade and both are featured prominently in artist Sherry Pettey’s mural of Newtonia history at the community building.

Bill took pride in his home, being honored multiple times for having Newtonia’s Yard of the Month and created a dazzling light display every Christmas. He enjoyed tinkering in his workshop, gardening (he took pride in his tomatoes) and was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs and for years attended East Newton sports activities, home and away.

In addition to his wife and children, Bill is survived by three granddaughters, Cristal (Kevin) Mouser, Stella; Kiley (Logan) Alumbaugh, Mount Vernon; and Kara (Austin) Fodge, Fayetteville, North Carolina; and one great-granddaughter, Hattie Alumbaugh.

Bill loved Newtonia and Newtonia loved him.

A visitation will be held 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, January 20, at Clark Funeral Home, Granby, with the service to follow at 11 a.m. A private internment will be held at Newtonia IOOF Cemetery.

Contributions may be to Alzheimer’s research in care of Clark Funeral Home.