Elder William Laurance Turner, Sr.

Elder William "Bill" Turner, Sr., was born on September 26,1939, in Evanston, Illinois to the late Mr. Gilmer Turner, Sr., and Mrs. Pauline Campbell (maiden) Franklin. He attended school in Michigan City, Indiana and studied jazz in high school and by the age of 16 was an exceptional alto saxophonist for a local Chicago area Jazz band. He met his former wife, the late Gloria Turner, after she performed and won an amateur contest show at the Elbow Lounge in Chicago. They were married in February 1951 and had four sons and a daughter.

October 1951, our father was drafted into the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War. His military honors and awards for his combat service include the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and two Overseas Bars, and the National Defense Service Medal Republic of Korean Presidential Unit Citation. For nearly two years, he served as Army Drill Sergeant at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Out of 1,500 of his peers, the Post Commanding General presented Dad with the distinguished Outstanding Drill Sergeant Award. Dad also proudly carried the American Flag as member of the Fort Leonard Wood Post Honor Guard Team. Our father proudly served in the U.S.

Armed Forces until December 1956.

While working at Republic Steel, he met the lovely Annie (Honey) Marshall. In August 1979, Dad married "Honey" and was blessed to parent her five daughters.

Dad gave his life to Jesus Christ in 1980 at Marshall Temple COGIC in Gary, Indiana. He was ordained to an Elder in 2005 at Lively Stones Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.

He retired from the Indiana Department of Corrections where he served as a Sergeant, Lead Trainer, and Shift Supervisor. He also had a career as a crane operator at Republic Steel and bus driver for the Chicago Transit Authority.

Our father was a world traveler and loved history. He loved telling stories of his own family history. His great-great grandfather, the late Mr. Flem Tinsley, was the born in Roanoke, West Virginia in 1842 and was the son of a slave master. In 1933, Grandpa Flem was the first man to receive social security benefits in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He died in the mid-1940s. Dad was raised by his grandparents, the late Mr. William and Mrs. Mary Campbell, and his favorite Aunt, Georgia, who was born in 1890.

As a world traveler, Dad visited Japan and Korea while in the military. When he married Honey, he promised her he would show her the world. Together they travelled to Germany, Paris, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Mexico, Canada and the Bahamas. They crisscrossed the country by visiting Hawaii, California, New York, Texas, Las Vegas and 31 other places though out the United States.

Dad was a true "family man" and cherished every opportunity to enjoy his children gathered around for big family dinners. His beloved family will miss him most.

He leaves to cherish his memory: His wife, Mrs. Annie L. Turner, Sons: William L. Turner,Jr., Leland P. Turner, Antoine Turner, Sr., Armon (Laura) Turner, Sr.; Daughters: Juliet (Arbie) Lankford, Julia Marshall, Kim (Christopher) Sorrell, Vivian Davis, Cynthia (Eric) Newman, Leticia Turner;a kindred son and daughter, James Webb and Lisa Jones. Brother: Gilmer Turner, Jr; Sisters: Lana (Dr. Joe) Hackworth, Joan Turner, Edith (Billy John) Turner-Craig, Tracie Turner, Amanda Turner, Mary Turner, Preceding him in death, Father, Gilmer Turner, Sr., Mother, Pauline Franklin, Sisters: Crystal Turner and Freddie Turner 30 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

His Visitation will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2015, 9am - 11am, with the Homegoing Celebration at 11am in Lively Stones Christian Church, 4626 Wentworth Boulevard, Indianapolis, Indiana. The burial will immediately follow in Crown Hill Cemetery.