Julian Howard Turner

JULIAN HOWARD TURNER, age 87, died July 15, 2014 after a lengthy battle with myelofibrosis and myelodysphasia. Mr. Turner was born on March 23, 1927 in Blakely, GA to Joseph and Nell Turner, long-time residents of Early County. Mr. Turner attended Columbus High School in Columbus, GA but did not graduate. Instead he enlisted in the Army in June 1945 before the war ended in the Pacific Theater and after basic training, spent a year in Europe with the occupation forces. He spent six years in the Army Reserves after his discharge from active duty. He attended Georgia Tech in Atlanta to secure his GED. He enrolled at the University of Georgia and graduated in May 1951 with a degree in Business Administration. In June 1951 he joined Sears, Roebuck & Co. in their executive training program. Mr. Turner was with Sears for 31 years, retiring in 1982 as vice president of one of their subsidiaries. He joined Adams Cates (now Grub & Ellis) in May 1982 as senior vice president specializing in land sales. He formed his own company in 1991 with Mitsubishi as a client and also did commercial landscaping for his real estate clients. Mr. Turner enjoyed hunting quail in south GA, trout fishing in north GA and was an avid golfer at Druid Hills Golf club, Highland Falls Country Club & Trophy Club of Alpharetta. He was a student and expert on the War of Northern Aggression and World War II. Mr. Turner was greatly interested in jazz music and enjoyed listening from his extensive collection of records. He and his wife, Judy, traveled extensively in Europe, Israel and Canada as well as the U.S. He also traveled to Africa, Japan, and China. He was a long time member of Grace United Methodist Church in Atlanta and more recently Mount Bethel United Methodist in Marietta. He was a member of American Legion Post 201 in Alpharetta, World War II Roundtable, Non-Commission Officers Association, and past member of International Council of Shopping Centers, National Association of Industrial Land Office Planners, and Urban Land Institute. Mr. Turner is preceded in death by his parents, Nell & Joseph Turner, brother Owen Turner, of Atlanta GA, nephew Jeffrey Gwin & brother-in-law, Jack Gwin of Rome GA. He is survived by his wife, Judy, of 33 years, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Doris and Dan Ayer, and sister-in-law, Peggy Gwin of Rome, GA; niece, Julie Ford, and great nephews Noah & Sam Ford, nephew, John D. Ayer, Jr. (Heather) and great nieces, Lily & Ava Ayer. A celebration of Mr. Turner’s life will be held at HM Patterson & Son Funeral Home, Canton Hill Chapel, 1157 Old Canton Rd NE, Marietta GA on Friday at 12:00 noon with Ret. Col Ron Casteel and Rev. Ellen Hopkins officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to service at 11:00 a.m. Private interment will be at East View Cemetery, Rome GA with Rev Norv Haven officiating. Online condolences may be expressed at www.hmpattersoncantonhill.com.