TURNER, William Oliver, Jr., B.A., M.B.A., M.A., Ph.D., 82, of Midlothian, passed away in the early hours of October 1, 2014, after being hospitalized for multiple and serious medical problems.
Dr.Turner was born and raised in Newport News and graduated from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1954. After marrying Betty McKay, of Nineveh, the following year, he served 22 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Among other assignments, Bill was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington; Frankfurt, Germany, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Monroe, Virginia, and the Pentagon. He also completed tours of duty in Vietnam and Korea, where extended separations from family troubled him more than the physical dangers he faced. Although his career took him around the world, his heart never left the Old Dominion.
In 1981, Bill and Betty returned to Richmond, where they had first met, and moved into a home on McTyre's Cove in Brandermill. For the next 12 years Dr. Turner worked for the state of Virginia in the departments of personnel and training and information technology. This was a happy time until Betty's health declined dramatically. After her death in 1992, Bill courted and married Sonja LaBarber, with whom he would enjoy 20 years of extensive travel, church commitments and leadership roles in a number of civic organizations. He also returned to competitive bowling after a hiatus of several decades, sharing many laughs with his teammates and occasionally "winning the pot."
A lifelong love of learning compelled Bill to earn three advanced degrees and to teach business at George Mason University. Well into his seventh decade he pursued myriad academic and other interests, including conversation French, guitar lessons and doubles tennis. He was an avid reader, a gifted writer and a superb joke- and story-teller, possessing the Irish gift of gab seasoned with blarney. These traits made him an entertaining and popular speaker, especially at Brandermill Woods, where he prepared and presented several lecture series regarding American and world history. One of these showcased Dr. Turner's extraordinary knowledge about, and enduring fascination with, the Civil War (or, as he preferred to call it, the War of Northern Aggression.)
Bill gave generously to causes he felt were important, especially those advancing others' education. During his final years he sponsored a college student employee at Brandermill Woods and established scholarships at Virginia Commonwealth University and VMI. To a great extent, Dr. Turner lived his life with passion, faith and humor. Throughout, he did so with integrity.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sonja; and their favorite Maltese, Maggie. He also leaves behind a son, William "Jack" O. Turner and daughter-in-law, Colette, of Roswell, Georgia; daughter, Erin M. Turner-Bird and son-in-law, Fred, of Cortez, Colorado; grandson, Andrew M. Turner of Atlanta, Georgia; brother-in-law, Raymond Dudeck of Raleigh, N.C., brother and sister-in-law, Ernest and Ginny Milbredt of Midlothian, Virginia; and many beloved nieces and nephews. In 2012, he was preceded in death by his younger sister and only sibling, Deloris Markey of Canton, Georgia.
A memorial service will take place 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at the Brandermill Church on Millridge Parkway. A graveside service is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 8 at Ninevah Presbyterian Church near Front Royal, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brandermill Church or to the Brandermill Woods Foundation. Online condolences may be made at woodyfuneralhomehuguenot.com.
Dr.Turner was born and raised in Newport News and graduated from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1954. After marrying Betty McKay, of Nineveh, the following year, he served 22 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Among other assignments, Bill was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington; Frankfurt, Germany, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Monroe, Virginia, and the Pentagon. He also completed tours of duty in Vietnam and Korea, where extended separations from family troubled him more than the physical dangers he faced. Although his career took him around the world, his heart never left the Old Dominion.
In 1981, Bill and Betty returned to Richmond, where they had first met, and moved into a home on McTyre's Cove in Brandermill. For the next 12 years Dr. Turner worked for the state of Virginia in the departments of personnel and training and information technology. This was a happy time until Betty's health declined dramatically. After her death in 1992, Bill courted and married Sonja LaBarber, with whom he would enjoy 20 years of extensive travel, church commitments and leadership roles in a number of civic organizations. He also returned to competitive bowling after a hiatus of several decades, sharing many laughs with his teammates and occasionally "winning the pot."
A lifelong love of learning compelled Bill to earn three advanced degrees and to teach business at George Mason University. Well into his seventh decade he pursued myriad academic and other interests, including conversation French, guitar lessons and doubles tennis. He was an avid reader, a gifted writer and a superb joke- and story-teller, possessing the Irish gift of gab seasoned with blarney. These traits made him an entertaining and popular speaker, especially at Brandermill Woods, where he prepared and presented several lecture series regarding American and world history. One of these showcased Dr. Turner's extraordinary knowledge about, and enduring fascination with, the Civil War (or, as he preferred to call it, the War of Northern Aggression.)
Bill gave generously to causes he felt were important, especially those advancing others' education. During his final years he sponsored a college student employee at Brandermill Woods and established scholarships at Virginia Commonwealth University and VMI. To a great extent, Dr. Turner lived his life with passion, faith and humor. Throughout, he did so with integrity.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sonja; and their favorite Maltese, Maggie. He also leaves behind a son, William "Jack" O. Turner and daughter-in-law, Colette, of Roswell, Georgia; daughter, Erin M. Turner-Bird and son-in-law, Fred, of Cortez, Colorado; grandson, Andrew M. Turner of Atlanta, Georgia; brother-in-law, Raymond Dudeck of Raleigh, N.C., brother and sister-in-law, Ernest and Ginny Milbredt of Midlothian, Virginia; and many beloved nieces and nephews. In 2012, he was preceded in death by his younger sister and only sibling, Deloris Markey of Canton, Georgia.
A memorial service will take place 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at the Brandermill Church on Millridge Parkway. A graveside service is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 8 at Ninevah Presbyterian Church near Front Royal, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brandermill Church or to the Brandermill Woods Foundation. Online condolences may be made at woodyfuneralhomehuguenot.com.
TURNER, William Oliver, Jr., B.A., M.B.A., M.A., Ph.D., 82, of Midlothian, passed away in the early hours of October 1, 2014, after being hospitalized for multiple and serious medical problems.
Dr.Turner was born and raised in Newport News and graduated from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1954. After marrying Betty McKay, of Nineveh, the following year, he served 22 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Among other assignments, Bill was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington; Frankfurt, Germany, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Monroe, Virginia, and the Pentagon. He also completed tours of duty in Vietnam and Korea, where extended separations from family troubled him more than the physical dangers he faced. Although his career took him around the world, his heart never left the Old Dominion.
In 1981, Bill and Betty returned to Richmond, where they had first met, and moved into a home on McTyre's Cove in Brandermill. For the next 12 years Dr. Turner worked for the state of Virginia in the departments of personnel and training and information technology. This was a happy time until Betty's health declined dramatically. After her death in 1992, Bill courted and married Sonja LaBarber, with whom he would enjoy 20 years of extensive travel, church commitments and leadership roles in a number of civic organizations. He also returned to competitive bowling after a hiatus of several decades, sharing many laughs with his teammates and occasionally "winning the pot."
A lifelong love of learning compelled Bill to earn three advanced degrees and to teach business at George Mason University. Well into his seventh decade he pursued myriad academic and other interests, including conversation French, guitar lessons and doubles tennis. He was an avid reader, a gifted writer and a superb joke- and story-teller, possessing the Irish gift of gab seasoned with blarney. These traits made him an entertaining and popular speaker, especially at Brandermill Woods, where he prepared and presented several lecture series regarding American and world history. One of these showcased Dr. Turner's extraordinary knowledge about, and enduring fascination with, the Civil War (or, as he preferred to call it, the War of Northern Aggression.)
Bill gave generously to causes he felt were important, especially those advancing others' education. During his final years he sponsored a college student employee at Brandermill Woods and established scholarships at Virginia Commonwealth University and VMI. To a great extent, Dr. Turner lived his life with passion, faith and humor. Throughout, he did so with integrity.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sonja; and their favorite Maltese, Maggie. He also leaves behind a son, William "Jack" O. Turner and daughter-in-law, Colette, of Roswell, Georgia; daughter, Erin M. Turner-Bird and son-in-law, Fred, of Cortez, Colorado; grandson, Andrew M. Turner of Atlanta, Georgia; brother-in-law, Raymond Dudeck of Raleigh, N.C., brother and sister-in-law, Ernest and Ginny Milbredt of Midlothian, Virginia; and many beloved nieces and nephews. In 2012, he was preceded in death by his younger sister and only sibling, Deloris Markey of Canton, Georgia.
A memorial service will take place 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at the Brandermill Church on Millridge Parkway. A graveside service is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 8 at Ninevah Presbyterian Church near Front Royal, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brandermill Church or to the Brandermill Woods Foundation. Online condolences may be made at woodyfuneralhomehuguenot.com.
Dr.Turner was born and raised in Newport News and graduated from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1954. After marrying Betty McKay, of Nineveh, the following year, he served 22 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Among other assignments, Bill was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington; Frankfurt, Germany, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Monroe, Virginia, and the Pentagon. He also completed tours of duty in Vietnam and Korea, where extended separations from family troubled him more than the physical dangers he faced. Although his career took him around the world, his heart never left the Old Dominion.
In 1981, Bill and Betty returned to Richmond, where they had first met, and moved into a home on McTyre's Cove in Brandermill. For the next 12 years Dr. Turner worked for the state of Virginia in the departments of personnel and training and information technology. This was a happy time until Betty's health declined dramatically. After her death in 1992, Bill courted and married Sonja LaBarber, with whom he would enjoy 20 years of extensive travel, church commitments and leadership roles in a number of civic organizations. He also returned to competitive bowling after a hiatus of several decades, sharing many laughs with his teammates and occasionally "winning the pot."
A lifelong love of learning compelled Bill to earn three advanced degrees and to teach business at George Mason University. Well into his seventh decade he pursued myriad academic and other interests, including conversation French, guitar lessons and doubles tennis. He was an avid reader, a gifted writer and a superb joke- and story-teller, possessing the Irish gift of gab seasoned with blarney. These traits made him an entertaining and popular speaker, especially at Brandermill Woods, where he prepared and presented several lecture series regarding American and world history. One of these showcased Dr. Turner's extraordinary knowledge about, and enduring fascination with, the Civil War (or, as he preferred to call it, the War of Northern Aggression.)
Bill gave generously to causes he felt were important, especially those advancing others' education. During his final years he sponsored a college student employee at Brandermill Woods and established scholarships at Virginia Commonwealth University and VMI. To a great extent, Dr. Turner lived his life with passion, faith and humor. Throughout, he did so with integrity.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sonja; and their favorite Maltese, Maggie. He also leaves behind a son, William "Jack" O. Turner and daughter-in-law, Colette, of Roswell, Georgia; daughter, Erin M. Turner-Bird and son-in-law, Fred, of Cortez, Colorado; grandson, Andrew M. Turner of Atlanta, Georgia; brother-in-law, Raymond Dudeck of Raleigh, N.C., brother and sister-in-law, Ernest and Ginny Milbredt of Midlothian, Virginia; and many beloved nieces and nephews. In 2012, he was preceded in death by his younger sister and only sibling, Deloris Markey of Canton, Georgia.
A memorial service will take place 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at the Brandermill Church on Millridge Parkway. A graveside service is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 8 at Ninevah Presbyterian Church near Front Royal, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brandermill Church or to the Brandermill Woods Foundation. Online condolences may be made at woodyfuneralhomehuguenot.com.
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