Laurita Turner

Laurita “Vonnie” Pratt Turner (92) entered her eternal home on April 17, 2023 at Arcadia in Honolulu. Vonnie was born in Wahiawa in 1930 to Joshua and Marion Pratt. She fondly remembers her early years at Kipapa Camp and Wahiawa, even joining her father on horseback occasionally as he traveled among the fields for Dole Pineapple. As a young girl she witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor from the heights of Wahiawa and kept a journal from those early days of the war from an 11-year old’s perspective. Vonnie attended Punahou and graduated with the Class of 1948. She was looking forward to her 75th reunion with classmates in June. After graduation she attended St. Lawrence University for two years before being wooed by a dashing young Army officer, Bert Turner.

Vonnie and Bert were married on July 15, 1950 and honeymooned on the Big Island. Just two weeks after their wedding with just one week’s warning Bert was deployed to fight in the Korean War. She did not see him again for the next 18 months. Upon returning from war the two of them began their family and traveled the world with a variety of duty assignments including Oklahoma, Germany, Kansas, Virginia, Alabama, before returning to their native home in Hawaii in 1968.

Throughout her life whenever an opportunity came to serve, Vonnie was quick to raise her hand. While raising a family she was a Cub Scout Den Mother, was always active on school committees including president of the PTA, and served masterfully in many capacities as the wife of an Army officer. She didn’t consider retirement age a time to stop volunteering and was known in Arcadia as a person who could be counted on to join and eventually lead many committees. Care and concern for including others defined Vonnie whether they be family, old friends, new friends, or staff.

During the 1970’s Vonnie took over a Cross Pen distributorship from her father and became one A. T. Cross’s top salespeople before selling the business in the early 1990’s. She was very proud of her role as a successful woman in business at a time when they were few and far between.

When asked what she wanted to be known for her simple response was,“Plants." Vonnie loved plants and invested countless hours in her gardens in all their stations of duty, in the greenhouse and landscaping at Arcadia, in the Garden Club of Honolulu which recently awarded her Emeritus status in recognition of her contributions, and lastly in funding numerous internships for research and preservation of native Hawaiian flora at Lyon Arboretum. In an email to friends at Arcadia in her final days she was sure to say in addition to how much she treasured her friends, “Please, if it’s possible, give my plants some water.”

Vonnie and Bert enjoyed 66 years of marriage before Bert passed in 2017. She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law: Farrant (Joyce) of Madison AL, Jot (Marietta) of Shoreview MN, David (Kirsten) of Kailua HI. Over the years she joyfully welcomed six grandchildren and one hanai granddaughter (Megan,

David, Laura, Christie, Micah, Nai’a, and Michelle), attended three of their marriages in person or virtually and was looking forward to another wedding in September. Finally, Vonnie also welcomed six great-grandchildren. Family was everything to Vonnie; not just her immediate family but as part of a multi-generational family in Hawaii she adored her numerous cousins and all the nieces and nephews.

Laurita Pratt Turner will be interred at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe alongside Bert.

Memorial gifts can be made to Lyon Arboretum or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BorthwickOahu.com for the Turner family.