William "Bill" Lester Turner Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

William “Bill” Lester Turner passed away Friday, March 11, 2016 at the age of 91. He was born May 16, 1924 in St. Louis, Missouri to Daniel Joseph Turner and Reba Lee Williams. He was the youngest of three children and grew up during the Great Depression in Andalusia, Alabama where he only had one pair of shoes to go to school and wore flour sacks for underpants. He was a vibrant, happy go lucky, respectful young man who played the guitar and loved to dance. He loved his family and worked the farm until he was drafted into World War II upon graduating from Rawls High School in 1943. He served diligently as a baker third class for the Navy and spent most of his time on small islands in the Pacific Ocean. He was honorably discharged in New Orleans, Louisiana in November of 1945 and returned home to Alabama to surprise his mother. In 1946, Bill left home and moved to Niagara Falls where he lived until he realized he could not stand the cold and he set out for warmer weather in California. He found a job with Helms Bakery and spent his free time dancing, which led him to his soul mate. It was during a Valentines Day dance when he met Inis Naomi Ormond who swept him off his feet from the very first dance. She fit all of his boxes—she didn't drink, she didn't smoke, and she didn't gamble. They courted for seven months before marrying at the Los Angeles City Hall in 1947. After five years of living in a one-room apartment, they saved enough money to put a down payment on a house. During this time, they had three children; daughter, Jerry Lee; and sons, William Joseph and Francis Clayton. Bill joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1961 and was sealed to his family in the Los Angeles Temple one year later. He continued to work for Helms Bakery for 20 years, with only two sick days, and in 1969, he got a job at Merle Normans and was the first person to be recognized for 20 years of perfect attendance. He continued his passion for the guitar, singing his favorite, Hank Williams Sr., and travelling the world. He provided for his family with undying love and faithfully served in all of his church callings with 100% home teaching service. Upon retirement in 1991, he and his wife humbly served as temple ordinance workers for 14 years in the Los Angeles Temple. Bill and Inis cared for their grandchildren with love and devotion, and continued to spoil them rotten any chance they could get. Bill demonstrated to all those who knew him a devout Christ-like service, a steadfast perseverance to all of his commitments, and what it meant to have a true conversion of the heart. Bill is survived by his wife, Inis Turner; children, Jerry Arnstad, Joe Turner, and Francis Turner; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren (plus one on the way). They all have a message for him: We love you so much! Until we meet again, good lookin'! Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 19, 2016 at the East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery. Friends may call at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services at the cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.

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William "Bill" Lester Turner

May 16, 1924 - March 11, 2016