Billy Turner

Bill E. Turner was born April 11, 1938 in Greenville, S.C., son of the late Claude Wesley Turner and Daisy Wix Turner died on December. 6, 2017 at the age of 79. He was a longtime resident of Schertz, TX. During his lifetime, Bill wrote many stories, mostly of the good things that happened. The first was that he was born on his mother's birthday and that she had told him he was her "best" present ever. He also wrote of the day he met Jeanette when the Odell Texas High School student body toured Altus Air Force Base, Okla., in 1956. He was one of the tour guides and they married in September 1957, a special day that would have never happened had he not joined the Air Force after his junior year in high school. Except for short absences Bill and Jeanette were always together. In addition to a long marriage, he had a 26-year Air Force career that was good to and for him and the Air Force. He served all those years in the public affairs arena which also included broadcasting. Besides being able to attend various broadening training courses including the basic, advanced and officer public affairs courses at the Defense Information School and a special communication program at the University of Oklahoma, he also earned associate, bachelor's and masters of arts degrees through civilian institutions. Career wise, while serving throughout the United States and several overseas tours (including his service in Vietnam), he went from basic airman though master sergeant and selection for promotion to senior master sergeant. About the same time, he was selected for the Air Force commission program. He would have pinned on the senior master sergeant stripes on November 1, 1971 but instead completed the Officer Training Program and received his second lieutenant bars on November 2. He also earned many medals and honors while serving 16 years enlisted, 10 years commissioned and retiring in 1981 as a Captain. His final duty was Chief of the internal information branch in the Air Training Command Office of Public Affairs at Randolph AFB, Texas. After retiring, he worked 24 more years as an Air Force civilian at Kelly AFB and in the Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph. Bill is preceded in death by to his parents, sisters (infant) Mildred Turner and Margaret Nalley, Doris Morton, Sarah (Jean) Brown, and Mary T. Sheets. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Frances (Jeanette) Ensey Turner; Daughter Melody Cherry and husband Daniel Santos-Costa of San Antonio; Son Kevin Turner and Rita of Firestone, Colo.; Grandson Eric Turner and Cindy of Manor, Texas; Grandson Bryan Cherry of Midland, Texas; Granddaughter Kala and husband Brandon Schwabe of Bastrop, Texas; Granddaughter Kate Johnson of Durango, Colo.; great grandsons Kyler Ray Brown and Logan Johnson; and brother Robert C Turner and wife Penny of Bessemer City NC; and nieces and nephews and many cousins..

A Memorial Service will be at the Schertz Funeral Home on Monday Dec. 18 at 9:00AM officiated by Pastor Charles Fannin followed by burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 10:45AM.

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