Robert Earl Turner

He was preceded in death by Mary (Adams) Turner, his wife of almost fifty years; 1 brother and 3 sisters; son Alvin Adams and grandson Mark Adams . He is survived by a brother Melvin Turner, Chester, OK; a daughter Patricia Kephart (Joe) of Hermiston, OR; and sons Robert Turner Jr (Jean) of Auburn, WA; Jerry (Joan) Adams of Renton, WA; and Mike (Donna) Adams of Othello, WA; 12 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling and a good evening of pinochle. His love of sports was not only in watching, he played softball and baseball and knocked down his share of bowling pins. He with his wife Mary always had a lovely flower garden, which of course, included a few tomato plants – his absolute favorite. So much so that friends and neighbors called him ‘Tomato Bob.’ He and Mary were able to travel extensively across Canada, the continental US, and Alaska. He really enjoyed the cruises, stating the “Food is really good.”

In the early years, he was involved with farming and other jobs to earn a living for his family. He moved to California during WWII and worked with automobile recovery and repair in San Diego. He joined the Army near the end of the war and was awarded a purple heart for a bullet wound which ended his military service. He moved with his family back to OK and like many soldiers was trying to adjust and get established. He again tried farming and other work, driving cabs, etc. In 1950 he found himself on the farm, but in Iowa. After a couple years, he returned to OK.

Having heard about new work in the Pacific Northwest, he traveled there and scouted out the opportunities associated with the Columbia Basin Project. He later related that, ” If he had the money, he could have bought the whole town of Othello, less the railroad station, for about $500.” In 1954, he and his parents and two kids left OK and moved to Lind, WA. They traveled in a 1950 Chevrolet pickup with a bow tarp cover and pulling a trailer behind. It was quite cold going across the Rockies in late winter. That summer we moved to Othello, WA. I remember asking dad where the airplanes were when I first saw the Lutacaga gym. It did look like an airplane hanger. Dad became involved with infrastructure construction – roads, bridges, etc. - associated with opening up the Columbia Basin for farming.

Othello has been an important place for my family. Besides being a home to dad for 57 years, he was able to participate and give back to the community. The first organized baseball team was under his tutelage. They traveled to such exciting places as Warden, Ritzville and the Tri-cities riding in the back of that Chevrolet pickup. Later, he met a wonderful lady with which he spent almost 50 years in marriage. He was hired to work for the city of Othello and eventually became the Public Works Supervisor. He was one of the few men to hold that position in the state of WA without a bachelor’s degree, a tribute to his determination and abilities. He could always be counted on to get the job done and to express his viewpoint, even if not the popular position. After twenty years of service, he made the decision to retire and do some serious traveling. Because the city was having difficulty in securing a new manger, they asked him to fill in and he did so over the next 3 years. During his tenure much of the current park, water and sewage systems were put into place.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Diane Schouviller for her devoted and loving care during the past six years.