OBITUARY: Walter Eugene "Bill" Turner

Walter Eugene "Bill" Turner was born on November 6th, 1934, in Stanley, VA, to Thelma & Walter Lee Turner. He passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital, Puyallup, WA, on November 7th, 2023, one day after his 89th birthday, and just four months after losing his wife of 66 years.

Walter grew up in West Virginia and faced many hardships in his childhood. At the age of 14, he worked his first job delivering milk to help support his mom and 5 siblings after the disappearance of his dad in 1945. He graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1952, joining the United States Air Force in 1955, and meeting the love of his life, Jo Ann Dyer, while stationed in Condon, OR. They married on February 2nd, 1957, and together raised three children in Federal Way, WA, after moving there in 1969.

He began his career at Northwest Airlines in 1959, however, due to layoffs, in 1962 he applied for an opening at Alaska Airlines and was hired on the spot! He started out working in Weight & Balance, but after joining the Maintenance Team's bowling team and finding out how much they made, he acquired his A&P license and became a mechanic. He proudly worked 37 years for Alaska Airlines, retiring as an Airframe & Power Plant Technician and a Quality Control Inspector.

Walter was a devoted husband and patriarch. He enjoyed life, family & friends, traveling to all 50 states, outdoor activities, doting on his grandchildren, attending church & family gatherings, Rinehart family reunions & Air Force reunions.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Jo Ann, siblings Isabelle Kline, Isaac Turner and Ruth Baumgardner. He is survived by siblings Mary Keesecker & Samuel Turner, son Chet Turner (Starlet), daughters Peggy Loftus (Guy Beard) & Tammy Dolan (Tim), grandchildren Chester, Debbie, Amber, Starla, Austin, Kym, Betty Jo, Rachel, and 16 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Brooklake Church, 629 S 356th St, Federal Way, WA 98003, at 10:00 am, Monday, January 8th, 2023, followed by Interment with Military Honors at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA 98042, at 2:00 pm.

Please share your memories of Walter online at http://www.neptunesociety.com/obituaries.