Barbara Baumgarten Turner

Turner Barbara Baumgarten Turner, 89, of Pacific Grove died on Monday, April 4th, 2016. A visitation will be held at the Paul Mortuary’s Chapel in Pacific Grove on Thursday, April 14th at 9:30 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Angela’s Catholic Church in Pacific Grove 11:00 am, Thursday, April 14th. Burial will occur at Friday, April 15th at Noon at Holy Cross Cemetery in St. Helena. The long-time matriarch of the Turner family, Barbara was born in Oceanside, CA on April 14, 1926, daughter of Fred & Harriet Baumgarten, sister of Joan Smithey. She married James B. Turner, a Naval Aviation Maintenance Officer, Civil Engineer, and former City Manager of Albany and Bishop, on July 25, 1945 in San Diego. She is survived by her children Daniel Turner of Salt Lake City, Carolyn Nathan of Santa Cruz who is married to Arthur Nathan Jr., and Fred Turner of Sacramento; her grandchildren Arthur Nathan III, Erin Nathan, and Rose Turner; her great grandchildren Marcos Nathan and Calvin Nathan. Barbara graduated from Our Lady of Peace Academy in 1943, Chabot College with an AA in 1970, California State University Hayward (East Bay) in 1972 with a BA in Social Science. She received her teaching credential in 1974 and served as Head Start director in Bishop, CA in the late 1970’s. After her husband James passed away in 1980, she earned her paralegal certificate from St. Mary’s College in 1983. She worked as a secretary, sold appliances, taught as a substitute teacher of elementary grades, prepared taxes for H&R Block, and consulted as a paralegal. She was a member of the Mayflower Society descending the Doty family, the Daughters of the American Revolution descending from General Israel Putnam, and the Beta Sigma Phi Fraternity. Barbara volunteered as a docent at the Pacific Grove Natural History Museum, for the State Historical Parks and the Visitors and Convention Bureau in Monterey, and as a butterfly docent in Pacific Grove. She also wore period costumes for Monterey’s Christmas in the Adobes. Her hobbies were writing, playing the piano, square dancing, bridge, plein air painting, computer technology, genealogy and traveling. She enjoyed trips to Mexico, England, Scotland, Armenia, Russia, the Ukraine and many national parks. As an accomplished author, Barbara wrote her life story as well as “Numbers” published in “Basketful of Themes” by Creative with Words in 2010.

Place of birth: Oceanside, CA

Place of death: Pacific Grove, CA