Obituary of Willard Llewellyn Turner

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of Bill Turner, beloved husband of the late Elva and father of Dean, who passed away August 16, 2016, at Ridgewood Veterans Wing in Saint John. Born on January 2, 1922, Bill was 94. Bill was predeceased by his beloved wife, Elva Geraldine (nee McAloney); his parents, Willard L. Turner Sr. and Grace Turner (nee Baker); his sisters, Dorothy (McKeown), Joan (Devine) and Willa (Melnyk) and his good friend, Dorothy Trunck. Bill is survived by his son, Dean Bradley Turner of Saint John; his brother-in-law, Jack McAloney of Saint John and many nieces and nephews. Bill was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A good athlete, he and his high school teams won provincial basketball and rugby championships. Bill was always interested in music and was a drummer and singer with several bands in the Halifax area. He enlisted in the RCAF in 1942 as a Wireless Air Gunner and served as a Flying Officer with 408 "Goose" Squadron flying Lancasters based out of York, England. After completing his operational tour, Bill became a wireless instructor in Wales. Returning to Canada in 1945, he resumed his career as a retailer with Woolworths. He worked in several cities in the Maritimes with Woolworths including Saint John where he met Elva. Following their marriage in 1950, they lived in Toronto and then Stratford, Ontario where their son Dean was born. In 1968 Bill joined Sears and managed various Sears’ stores throughout Ontario and Nova Scotia. He retired from Sears in 1987 as the manager for the Halifax Region. On his retirement, Bill and Elva returned to Saint John. Avid golfers, they were long time members of Riverside Country Club and spent winters golfing in Florida. They both enjoyed playing bridge and being with family until Elva’s death in 1999. In addition to golf and bridge, Bill loved redecorating, do-it-yourself projects, reading, following American politics and cruising around town with the top down in the convertible. In his last years, he enjoyed doing these with his good friend Dorothy. We would like to thank Bill’s care giver and good friend Hazel Jacquart for her devotion and care to Bill. We would also like to thank the staff of Ridgewood Veterans Wing for their compassionate care of Bill over the past year and the staff of the Chateau de Champlain and Joan’s Home Support Care for their earlier care of Bill. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 22, 2016 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM with a Legion Tribute being held at 7:00 PM. A service of remembrance will be held from Brenan’s Funeral Home Chapel, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424) on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 12:00 Noon. Interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Ridgewood Veterans Wing Comfort Fund or the Alzheimer Society of Saint John.