Wendell Everett Turner

Born on June 18, 1946 to Nell & Gene Turner, Wendell attended Bass High School in the Little Five Points area and Epworth Methodist Church. He has many friends from that time in his life who are like family. He was a proud graduate of Georgia Tech. Wendell married his true love Lee Stephens on December 21, 1968. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served honorably in the U.S. Army. Wendell earned several awards including a Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant.

Wendell was a loving father to Megan, Maura, & Mason. An Eagle Scout himself, he was active in both Girl Scouting and Boy Scouting with his children, taking them father-daughter camping, accompanying Megan’s troop to Savannah, and serving as a pack leader when Mason was a Cub Scout. The 3 Ms have many fond memories of family road trips, of nights searching for spiders in our backyard, and of mornings with cinnamon toast – one of Wendell’s specialties that made it into a cookbook of favorite recipes following his stroke.

Wendell enjoyed journeys to state fairs, was always checking out the newest gadgets & technology, and would never turn down a trip to the Varsity for a frosted orange and onion rings. In recent years, he often spent time talking about future adventures he’d like to go on with his family, to destinations including the Atlanta Zoo, Disney World, and the Biltmore Estate.

Wendell is survived by his loving family: wife Lee Turner; children Megan Turner, Maura Turner Cox (Gareth), Mason Turner (Ruti); and adored grandchildren Jane & Everett Cox. He is also survived by: brothers Sid Turner (Bonnie) and Kent Turner (Ellen Anderson); brother-in-law Al Stephens (Diana); sister-in-law Joan Fountain (Andy); sister-in-law Jane Turner; and many cousins, nieces, & nephews. He is predeceased by his mother Nell Turner, father Gene Turner, brother Gene (Skip) Turner, Jr., and nephew Daniel Stephens. He loved and was loved by them all.

The family would like to give very special thanks to Sam Hammonds and John Blay Miezah for the kind and loving care they gave Wendell at home.

In lieu of flowers, if so moved, the family requests donations to the Shepherd Center, a haven for our family with dedicated staff who helped him so much, or Chamblee First United Methodist Church, whose members and clergy have been loving and supportive since we joined 40+ years ago, and even more so following Wendell’s stroke 12 years ago.

A private graveside service will be held for family only. A memorial celebration will be planned at a later date.