William F. Turner

William F. Turner of Churchville, MD, died at the age of 91 on November 10, 2016 at his home. He was born in Brooklyn, NY to William Fisher Turner Jr. and Sarah Beverley Turner. He was a graduate of Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn and attended Clemson College for one semester before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He was assigned to the 95th Infantry Division of the 3rd Army in Europe. During WWII he served as a combat infantryman and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Silver Star for gallantry in action, a Good Conduct Medal, and three Bronze Stars. He later attended Rutgers University where he majored in agronomy and enjoyed a successful thirty-five year career in the chemical fertilizer industry. He was an accomplished artist and in 1987, Mr. Turner began publishing pen and ink drawings of local scenes in the Harford County section of the Baltimore Sun newspaper. His work was a regular feature until 1995 when that section of the paper was discontinued. During that time he completed over 375 local scenes that became popular with the citizens of Harford County. Mr. Turner was honored to have his work displayed as far west as Chicago and as far east as Germany. He participated in many exhibitions which included the World Trade Center in Baltimore, State House in Annapolis, and the Medical School of The Johns Hopkins University. However, one of his most satisfying moments came in 1995 when the mayor of Havre de Grace presented prints of his work to President Clinton and Vice President Gore when they visited that area for Earth Day. Mr. Turner held membership in the Harford Artist's Association, the Maryland Art League and the Cecil County Arts Council. He was also active in community groups including the Rolling Green Community Association and the Churchville Ruritan Club for whom he produced calendars with his prints of the county for 25 years. The funds raised made it possible to support Harford Community College's Scholarship Foundation, as well as financial donations to other organizations which included Level Fire Department, Harford Technical High School FFA, Churchville Elementary Stars Program, Boy Scout Troop 375, Churchville Rec Council, and many others. He was active at the Churchville Presbyterian Church where he served as a Sunday school teacher, Trustee and Elder. He was also responsible for the formation of the Peace and Justice Committee at the church and chaired that committee at the Presbytery level.

Mr. Turner is survived by his wife of 38 years, Patricia R. Turner; his children, Jane B. Turner and husband, Jon Barth, of Glenview, IL, James A. Turner and wife, Maria, of Ellicott City, Michelle Garren and husband, Roger, of Hyattsville and Karen Welch of Birmingham, AL; his grandchildren, Anna A. Richmond, Sarah Richmond, Katherine Turner and Seneca Garren; and his sister, Beverley Plyer of Guilford, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Churchville Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 2844 Churchville Road, Churchville, MD 21028 or Harford Artist Gallery, 37 North Main Street, Suite 104, Bel Air, MD 21014.