Mr. Richard Neil Turner Sr., age 82, of Hapeville, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 17th 2018. Mr. Turner was born on January 23, 1936, in Holly Springs, Georgia, a son to the late Guy Turner and Fannie Ragsdale Turner. He had one sister, Doris Ackles, who passed away in 2015.
Mr. Turner was born in Holly Springs and then his family relocated at a young age to Hapeville, Georgia. It was at Hapeville First Baptist Church where he would meet his future wife of 59 years, Joanne Pattillo. Richard graduated from Hapeville High School as the high school valedictorian and went on to enroll at the prestigious Georgia Tech University where he achieved the Dean’s list each semester. Richard joined Otis Elevator Company where he quickly rose to become the Regional Vice President over the Southeastern United States. He was extremely well-respected and well-liked at his job which he took great pride in.
More important than his job, was always his faith and family. After moving several times early in his career with Otis, he settled in a quiet, small town called Rex, Georgia where he and Joanne would raise their family. He and Joanne faithfully attended the Rock Baptist Church then Pinecrest Baptist Church and finally North Henry First Baptist Church. He believed in giving and, not only tithed without fail, but he had a huge heart for missions and children world-wide, always supporting without question. In addition to giving to the church, Richard wanted to give to his children and grandchildren. He found joy in making others happy. He loved taking annual trips with his children and grandchildren to the beach in the Panama City, Florida area where he enjoyed looking at the stars, listening to the ocean and watching the grandchildren do puzzles. Richard was an artist and was an impressive painter until a stroke handicapped him when he was 57 years old. After being paralyzed on one side, he still persevered and found other ways to express his artistic side creating models of buildings, clocks and cars. He, of course, was an avid Georgia Tech fan and always enjoyed college football season. Though he loved and enjoyed his hobbies, he received his greatest joy from being a father and grandfather, his love for his family being evident in each area of his life.
Richard is survived by his wife, Joanne Turner and 3 children, Richard Turner Jr., Robert Turner and Deeann Cash. He had 8 grandchildren: Angela Desin, Rick Turner, Meredith Wang, Katie Seagle, Lexy Turner, Caleb Turner, Micah Turner and Noah Turner. He had 10 great grandchildren: Layna, Everly and Mari Desin, Grady, Han and Judah Turner, Emma and Chance Wang, and Maddy Beth and Parker Seagle.
A funeral service to honor Richard N. Turner Sr. will take place at 1 o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, March 21st at Woodstock Funeral Home in Woodstock, Georgia, with viewing beginning at 11 am. A graveside service will follow at Chapman Hill Baptist Cemetery in Holly Springs, Georgia.
