Leonard M. Mr. Turner, Jr.

"June", as he was always known, was born in Kaufman, Texas on June 20, 1919. He was the son of Leonard Marvin Turner and Ruby (Talbot) Turner of Kaufman. He attended local schools in North Texas and worked on his father's farm prior to the outbreak of World War II. June graduated from the U.S. Army Air Corps Technical School at Sheppard Field, Wichita Falls, Texas in May 1942. His specialty was airplane mechanics.

After the war, he was stationed in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in the Army Air Corps, later known as the U.S. Air Force. While in Brazil during 1946-47 he flew an assortment of aircraft which included C-47's, B-25's, and DC-3 airplanes. His flights, to and from the continental U.S. transporting officers and dignitaries, were numerous. These special guests included General Dwight Eisenhower and Albert Einstein.

After his discharge from the U.S. Army in 1947, June flew airplanes professionally and was a ranch manager in South Texas at Cotulla. He became manager and a stockholder of the O.R. Mitchell Ranch, located in Von Ormy, Texas, 12 miles south of San Antonio. The ranch consisted of 3,400 acres, of which 1,300 were irrigated. This farm irrigation yielded the bulk feed need for the stockyard feedlots and the 500 Santa Gertrudis breeding cattle on the ranch. June managed and grew the operation for over 25 years.

June was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Dorothy and Polly and his wife of 14 years, Hazel.

He is survived by his daughter, Laura (Redwine) and her mother, Ida Wiley, both of San Antonio; his nieces, Suzie (Don) Burnes, Patricia Davy and Judi (Larry) Webb all of Terrell, Texas and his nephews, Andrew (Cindy) Clendenen of Dallas and his brother, Randy Clendenen of Austin.

June was well-known and had many friends and always had a story to tell about his colorful past. He was particularly proud of his ability to repair "any machine with an internal combustion engine." He was truly "one of a kind."

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

THURSDAY

AUGUST 6, 2015

10:30 A.M.

FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

In lieu of flowers, please send charitable contributions to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174 or the American Cancer Society, 8115 Datapoint Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229.