Tom R. Turner

Tommie Ray Turner (known as Tom) was born Nov 19th, 1925. He died in Tulsa Friday, April 15th 2016. He was 90 years old. Born in Sapulpa, OK to George R and Mary Turner, Tom grew up in a family with 4 brothers. He was raised in Sapulpa. He started high school in Sapulpa but the family moved to Miami, OK where he graduated high school in 1943. It was there he met his future wife Norma Jean. He joined the Navy 11/18/43 where he went through various schools and training. He was trained at catapult school to be a member of catapult team on the aircraft carrier, USS Rendova, CVE-114. His service was stationed most of the time on the west coast to train pilots from the US and the UK for carrier deck landings. Tom loved the daily air show and was proud that he got to push the button that launched the planes on a daily basis. He served in the Navy for 2yrs, 6 months, & 19 days. His rank started as Seaman second class (E2) and ended as Aviation Boatswain's Mate third class (E4). He received an honorable discharge on 6/6/46. He married Norma Jean Turner 9/28/46 whom he had dated since high school. In August 1951 their only child Rex was born. His schools completed included Catapult and Arresting Gear Training in the Navy. Then followed the Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design, and finally the Kansas City School of Watchmaking. Tom joined the Air Force reserves only to be called to active duty on June 13, 1952 to be stationed in Ft. Worth Texas as a Staff Sergeant. Date of separation was probably in late 1953. Tom and Jean were married for 53 years before her death in 2000. Over his life he owned a watch shop, worked at Westinghouse testing jet engines and retired after 23 years at American Airlines where he worked as an instrument mechanic working on servos and oxygen equipment. He was a member of the VFW Post 3077 in Collinsville for many years and held several positions. Mostly he liked sitting around telling stories and drinking coffee with the guys. He also was a lifetime member of the Sapulpa Historical Society and volunteered at the museum. Tom enjoyed fishing, camping, playing guitar, piano & fiddle. He traded musical instruments repeatedly and never bought a new car. He built a house in Collinsville and never had a mortgage on it. One of his favorite pastimes was to travel to see his brothers which were scattered from California, to Washington State to Colorado. Tom is preceded in death by his parents George and Mary, wife Norma Jean Turner (Jean), brothers, George, Harold & Kenneth. He is survived by his younger brother Ira, son Rex, granddaughter Kelley, great grandson Alex and a host of nieces and nephews. Viewing will be held 12 Noon til 8 P.M., Thursday, April 21, 2016 at Moore's Southlawn . All friends and family are welcome to the service and respectably help celebrate Tom Turner's life. Services will be held at the Southlawn Chapel of Moore Funeral Home at 9350 E 51st, Tulsa, OK, 74145 at 10AM, Friday, April 22, 2016 with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery at 5111 S Memorial Dr. Tulsa, OK 74145. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com

Tom R. Turner

November 19, 1925 - April 15, 2016