Jerry Whiteside Turner, 89, of Dale City, VA, passed away on February 21, 2021 after an extended illness.
Jerry was born in Guntersville, Alabama to Willam R. Turner and Thelma Whiteside on April 7, 1931.
The family moved when Jerry was 15 years old, to Gastonia, NC, where he lived out his high school years and married Gretchel R. Rector in 1951.
He joined the US Air Force at age 19, and completed various training programs, including Officer Candidate School, which was a highly sought-after program at the time and required the highest level of recommendations in order to attend. The training led to an eventual promotion to First Lieutenant, and to many more promotions over the years until he achieved his retirement rank of Lt. Colonel. Jerry was one of the rare Air Force individuals who was able to advance all the way from airman to Lt. Colonel, from status E-1 to O-5 in military parlance.
Jerry was a happy, optimistic man with a strong spiritual faith. He saw the best in other people and showed great kindness, respect, and generosity to family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. On the rare occasions when he showed anger, it was with a quiet, gentle strength, much like his father before him. He liked to laugh and joke around. He was a fine cribbage and pinochle player. He had a green thumb, and tended a fertile family garden for many years.
Jerry is preceded in death by his brothers Carl Walter Turner ("Bud"), William R. Turner, Jr. ("Julie"), and his sister Jean Dolores Fritton ("Slim").
Jerry is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Gretchel R. Turner, his son Jerry R. Turner and wife Barbara Fitzgerald-Turner, his son Jack W. Turner and wife Robin Renner, his son Ronald R. Turner and wife Tamara Bowman, his brother Charles Murphy ("Charlie") Turner and sister-in-law Angela Bernard Turner, sister-in-law Faye Turner, five grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
Jerry will be interred at the Quantico Marine Base cemetery in April. A video tribute to his life will be available at the funeral home's website: mountcastle.net/obituary.
Published in Gaston Gazette from Feb. 27 to Mar. 6, 2021.
Jerry was born in Guntersville, Alabama to Willam R. Turner and Thelma Whiteside on April 7, 1931.
The family moved when Jerry was 15 years old, to Gastonia, NC, where he lived out his high school years and married Gretchel R. Rector in 1951.
He joined the US Air Force at age 19, and completed various training programs, including Officer Candidate School, which was a highly sought-after program at the time and required the highest level of recommendations in order to attend. The training led to an eventual promotion to First Lieutenant, and to many more promotions over the years until he achieved his retirement rank of Lt. Colonel. Jerry was one of the rare Air Force individuals who was able to advance all the way from airman to Lt. Colonel, from status E-1 to O-5 in military parlance.
Jerry was a happy, optimistic man with a strong spiritual faith. He saw the best in other people and showed great kindness, respect, and generosity to family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. On the rare occasions when he showed anger, it was with a quiet, gentle strength, much like his father before him. He liked to laugh and joke around. He was a fine cribbage and pinochle player. He had a green thumb, and tended a fertile family garden for many years.
Jerry is preceded in death by his brothers Carl Walter Turner ("Bud"), William R. Turner, Jr. ("Julie"), and his sister Jean Dolores Fritton ("Slim").
Jerry is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Gretchel R. Turner, his son Jerry R. Turner and wife Barbara Fitzgerald-Turner, his son Jack W. Turner and wife Robin Renner, his son Ronald R. Turner and wife Tamara Bowman, his brother Charles Murphy ("Charlie") Turner and sister-in-law Angela Bernard Turner, sister-in-law Faye Turner, five grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
Jerry will be interred at the Quantico Marine Base cemetery in April. A video tribute to his life will be available at the funeral home's website: mountcastle.net/obituary.
Published in Gaston Gazette from Feb. 27 to Mar. 6, 2021.
Jerry Whiteside Turner, 89, of Dale City, VA, passed away on February 21, 2021 after an extended illness.
Jerry was born in Guntersville, Alabama to Willam R. Turner and Thelma Whiteside on April 7, 1931.
The family moved when Jerry was 15 years old, to Gastonia, NC, where he lived out his high school years and married Gretchel R. Rector in 1951.
He joined the US Air Force at age 19, and completed various training programs, including Officer Candidate School, which was a highly sought-after program at the time and required the highest level of recommendations in order to attend. The training led to an eventual promotion to First Lieutenant, and to many more promotions over the years until he achieved his retirement rank of Lt. Colonel. Jerry was one of the rare Air Force individuals who was able to advance all the way from airman to Lt. Colonel, from status E-1 to O-5 in military parlance.
Jerry was a happy, optimistic man with a strong spiritual faith. He saw the best in other people and showed great kindness, respect, and generosity to family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. On the rare occasions when he showed anger, it was with a quiet, gentle strength, much like his father before him. He liked to laugh and joke around. He was a fine cribbage and pinochle player. He had a green thumb, and tended a fertile family garden for many years.
Jerry is preceded in death by his brothers Carl Walter Turner ("Bud"), William R. Turner, Jr. ("Julie"), and his sister Jean Dolores Fritton ("Slim").
Jerry is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Gretchel R. Turner, his son Jerry R. Turner and wife Barbara Fitzgerald-Turner, his son Jack W. Turner and wife Robin Renner, his son Ronald R. Turner and wife Tamara Bowman, his brother Charles Murphy ("Charlie") Turner and sister-in-law Angela Bernard Turner, sister-in-law Faye Turner, five grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
Jerry will be interred at the Quantico Marine Base cemetery in April. A video tribute to his life will be available at the funeral home's website: mountcastle.net/obituary.
Published in Gaston Gazette from Feb. 27 to Mar. 6, 2021.
Jerry was born in Guntersville, Alabama to Willam R. Turner and Thelma Whiteside on April 7, 1931.
The family moved when Jerry was 15 years old, to Gastonia, NC, where he lived out his high school years and married Gretchel R. Rector in 1951.
He joined the US Air Force at age 19, and completed various training programs, including Officer Candidate School, which was a highly sought-after program at the time and required the highest level of recommendations in order to attend. The training led to an eventual promotion to First Lieutenant, and to many more promotions over the years until he achieved his retirement rank of Lt. Colonel. Jerry was one of the rare Air Force individuals who was able to advance all the way from airman to Lt. Colonel, from status E-1 to O-5 in military parlance.
Jerry was a happy, optimistic man with a strong spiritual faith. He saw the best in other people and showed great kindness, respect, and generosity to family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. On the rare occasions when he showed anger, it was with a quiet, gentle strength, much like his father before him. He liked to laugh and joke around. He was a fine cribbage and pinochle player. He had a green thumb, and tended a fertile family garden for many years.
Jerry is preceded in death by his brothers Carl Walter Turner ("Bud"), William R. Turner, Jr. ("Julie"), and his sister Jean Dolores Fritton ("Slim").
Jerry is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Gretchel R. Turner, his son Jerry R. Turner and wife Barbara Fitzgerald-Turner, his son Jack W. Turner and wife Robin Renner, his son Ronald R. Turner and wife Tamara Bowman, his brother Charles Murphy ("Charlie") Turner and sister-in-law Angela Bernard Turner, sister-in-law Faye Turner, five grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
Jerry will be interred at the Quantico Marine Base cemetery in April. A video tribute to his life will be available at the funeral home's website: mountcastle.net/obituary.
Published in Gaston Gazette from Feb. 27 to Mar. 6, 2021.
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