Noel Turner

January 30, 1919 – June 21, 2014

Noel Ebenezer Turner II, Lieutenant Colonel USAF (Ret) of San Rafael died at home from an accident in his 95th year on June 21, 2014. Born on January 30, 1919, in Mobile, Alabama, the son of William Oats Turner and Margaret Francis (Wilson) Turner, he was named for his paternal grandfather, a prominent Alabama lumberman of Vinegar Bend, Alabama. He attended University Military School in Mobile until moving with is family to Avalon on Santa Catalina Island, off the southern California coast. He finished high school in Avalon before attending Long Beach Junior College, the University of Maryland, and the Air Force University.

His college career was cut short by the attack on Pearl Harbor, and he joined the Army Air Corps and then the Air Force in April, 1942. His Air Force career began with flying school and ended more than 20 years later with retirement from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in October, 1962. He was a Command Pilot with service in the South Pacific during World War II. He also served in the Korean conflict as well as being a trans-Pacific pilot with the Military Air Transport Service. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross among other decoration.

He met his wife-to-be, Janet E Wright, before the war but they didn’t marry until June 16, 1951. They were stationed for a number of years in the 1950s in Germany, but came home to Hamilton Air Force Base in Marin around 1959. In 1962, after 20 years of service, Noel retired from his military career.

For his second career, he joined Crocker Bank which became Wells Fargo from which he retired in 1984 as a Vice President. While at Crocker he worked in management in both Collections and Risk Management. After retirement Noel and Janet did some traveling and enjoyed their beloved pets, TC, a Siamese cat and Sandy, a Shetland Sheep Dog. Noel had a passion for electronics. He was the first on his block to build his own computer (Heath Kit) not to mention various other electronic equipment like radios and televisions. He was computer literate long before most of us ever thought of having a computer. He kept up with the latest gadgets and gizmos and just like the younger generation always had his cell phone available to call for a needed service or a reservation at a restaurant.

After Janet’s death in 1992, Noel made a third “career” move when he moved to live at Smith Ranch Homes in San Rafael, when it was a newly forming community. There he was an active member of the Home Owners Association, serving a term as President. He contributed to the energy and buzz of the community by the parties he hosted and the groups he participated including a Friday Night supper group and a crowd called the Grumpy Old Men; one had to be single to join that group.

Noel was a friendly and out-going man. He enjoyed meeting and socializing. He was a bon vivant, enjoying good food, good wine and good stories. He often talked about the “good old days” which for him meant the big band era, the exciting and harrowing days of his youth He was a good friend to many and in each place he found himself, he figured out how he could serve his community. In retirement one of the ways he was active in his communities was with retired military groups, such as his flight school class which had periodic reunions around the country. As one friend put it, he was the major domo of many groups, calling them together, organizing their activities and making sure that people stayed in touch with each other. His loss will be felt by many as he served to glue them all together.

He was a very patriotic man, having served his country for more than 20 years in war and in peace. He felt strongly about the strengths of the USA, strengths of hard work, moral purpose, and human dignity. Noel was another member of that Greatest Generation, who grew up in difficult times, did his duty when war came upon him and then grew and protected his community and his country in the post World War II era. We will not see his like again. He will be missed.

Noel is survived by 5 cousins in Missouri, Helen (Geekie) Nightingale, and John, Richard, Eugene and Michael Geekie. He is also survived by his niece, Margaret Collins, and three nephews, John and Charles Collins and Charles Peter Wright. He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet Turner, and among many, many friends, two special friends, Dorothy Gaylord and Georgia.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 19th at 11am at Valley Memorial Park. For information on date, time and location, contact Keaton’s Redwood Chapel at 415-897-1151 or go to the web site: KeatonsRedwoodChapel.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">KeatonsRedwoodChapel.com For on-line condolences to the family, please visit our website: KeatonsRedwoodChapel.com Arrangements handled by Keaton’s Redwood Chapel and interment will be at Valley Memorial Park.