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Diane Turner Obituary
Memorial service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at University Christian Church, 2720 S. University Drive. Celebration of life reception immediately following at the Delta Gamma house in the Diane Turner Chapter Room. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Delta Gamma Foundation, Diane Turner Memorial Scholarship, 3250 Riverside Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43221; or the TCC Diane Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund, Tarrant County College District, 1500 Houston St., Fort Worth, Texas 76102.
Diane Turner was born Jan. 7, 1943, in Fort Worth to S.P. and June Turner. She graduated from Polytechnic High School. She attended Texas Christian University and graduated in 1965. She earned her master's degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce and graduated in 1970.
Diane was very active in her community which earned her the following awards: Outstanding Young Woman of America in 1973, Who's Who of American Women in 1975-76, Delta Gamma Cable Award in 1982, and the Notable Women of Texas in 1984-85. She worked for The Press and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as a reporter and photographer.
While a professor at Tarrant County College, she served as director of student publications. She was advisor to the yearbook, magazine and newspaper, all of which won state and national honors. She was elected Teacher of the Year in 1985 and 1986. She served as an officer for the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Texas Community College of Journalism. She was named the Adviser of the Year for TIPA in 1983. She was inducted into the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Hall of Fame 2005. She was an active member of Altrusa International of Fort Worth since 1977, serving as president in 1993-94 and 2000-01.
She was very active in her beloved fraternity, Delta Gamma. She served in many positions for the alumnae and college boards. She wrote songs and skits for the national organization and published a record, cassette tape and CD of her songs. Locally, she was named Outstanding Alumna in 1969 and won the Bronze Keel Award for continued service to the Fort Worth alumnae in 2000. For her dedication, she won two national awards, The Cable Award and The Anchor Award. She was the first recipient of The Anchor Award. In 1999, the chapter room at TCU was named the Diane Turner Chapter Room in her honor.
Diane accomplished many things during her life and left a proud legacy. Her family and friends will miss her dearly and will always remember her wonderful sense of humor, intelligence and desire to give to others.
Survivors: Brother, Sam Turner; nephew, Jeff Turner and wife, Angela; niece, Rochele Diane Pickle and husband, Tim; great-nieces, Taylor Pickle and Kasey Turner; great-nephews, Ryan Turner and Zach Pickle and wife, Michelle; great-great-nephew, Konnor Pickle; many cousins; and countless friends.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Diane Turner
Jeff
June 1, 2025
I think of you every day. I miss you every day. We love you.
June 2, 2010
I miss you very much and will remember you always!!!!! Love, Brenda
Gail Lowe
August 13, 2009
I was out of town in June and until I received the "Hannah's Herald" this week, I was unaware of Diane's passing. I'm so sorry to have missed her memorial service. I moved to Ft Worth from Omaha, Nebraska in 1965 and through Diane became active in our alum group. She made everthing fun and made me feel so at home. Have lived in Granbury for 35 years and received a call from her one day to come and receive my 50 year pin. She was the most outstanding DG I have ever known. I'm thankful to have had her in my life!
Bonnie McDaniel Clements
July 6, 2009
Diane was such a great motivator and so talented. I recall the days she led us in practice for our DG rush skits as well as for songfest. How blessed we were to have known her!
She will be greatly missed. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Beverly Brice LeBoeuf
June 14, 2009
I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit with Diane at Convention last year. The last night several of us did a room crawl thru the hotel and ended up in Turner's room - of course! Though I had to get up at 4:15 to leave at 5 AM (!!!!), I hung in till 1:45 AM. Am so glad I did. Getting to visit with her and Eleanor was always a trip! I'll always have that last memory.
Cathy D. Wahl
June 14, 2009
I did not know Diane personally, but as a fellow Delta Gamma, she made a mark on my life with her songs. No recruitment, pledging ceremony, fireside, or initiation is complete without one of her songs that expresses what we all feel in our hearts about Delta Gamma. I'm so thankful she share her talents with DG.
--Cathy D. Wahl, Beta Psi-Alabama chapter of Delta Gamma
Stacie Curry
June 11, 2009
On Christmas Eve we would attend the traditional party at Mac & Evelyn's, my two Great Aunts. I had just turned to a teen when the parties stopped, but I remember them well and recall them fondly, sharing the memories with my 8 year old son. The memories are the most favorite of my youth, the only times I remember being surrounded by so much family. Sadly though they are also the last of my visits with Diane. I guess with everyone going in different directions I just did not get to see her as often, though mother has kept in touch. I will regret this always, as she was always kind, generous and loving with us kids! I will miss those times and will miss her also, but I will always have Christmas Eve memories!
Lauren Jones
June 10, 2009
Diane Turner will certainly live on in her songs that will continue to ring through the halls of the Gamma Tau DG house. We will miss you Turner!
Love In The Bonds
Sharen Harris
June 10, 2009
There will be comfort in the memories your family will have knowning your love and devotion. I only had the pleasure of meeting you a couple of times but enjoyed talking to you. You will be missed greatly.
Mike McDermott
June 9, 2009
I have GREAT fond, fun memories of being on the TCJC South Campus Reflector student staff for years. I made some of my greatest friendships there. But most of all, I met Diane there, and the experience changed my life. She had the BEST sense of humor. I will miss her with a great deal of melancholy knowing that she is no longer with us. She touched so many lives with profound effect....or it that "affect"? Diane would knock me upside the head about now. Mike McDermott (Fort Worth
Mary Sellner Thomas
June 9, 2009
Diane, you were one of a kind. I'm so glad to have known you back in the old days at TCU and DG. You will be missed by those whose lives you touched.
Mary Sellner Thomas
TCU-1964
Heda Hahn
June 9, 2009
Diane. you were in life, the quintessential Delta Gamma. Your example will continue to hold us all to a higher standard. Thanks for sending me on the best road trip of my life. Rest in peace knowing we cherish our memories of times shared with you.
June 9, 2009
There are so many memories we have of Diane that there is not enough room to list everything. Of course, some of our fondest memories were in San Diego. Turner came to our house for 21 years, two days after Christmas and we celebrated New Years Eve with steak and fireworks!!!! And she always looked forward to our trips to Mexico to have lobster...she really loved that and our shopping in Tijuana for her animals.
And oh how she loved her nieces and newphews ("her children")...she always had new pictures and we shopped for their "Santa Bag' every year.
Knowing Turner for the last 33 years has been a "hoot" (as she would say) and a pleasure.
She will away's remain in our hearts.
Carolyn & Dave Zeller, Ft Worth, Texas
Ruby Bressman
June 9, 2009
Polytechnic High School Class of 1961 would like to express our deepest sympathy to the Turner family at the loss of Diane.
Diane's picture and obituary will be added to our Memorial Book along with our other 44 classmates who are gone but not forgotten.
Our prayers & thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Classmates from 1961
Robin Richardson
June 8, 2009
Diane Turner is the music of Delta Gamma! What a great lady, I'll never forget all she has given to Gamma Tau.
Brenda Moerschell
June 8, 2009
Diane, thanks for a lifetime of memories. I will miss you! You were a friend like no other.
John Hejl
June 8, 2009
Diane was my journalism professor TCC in 1972...it was great, her humor, her knowledge of the arts, journalism and she always gave us the freedom to express ourselves. What a great and wonderfull lady.
Robin Rhyand
June 8, 2009
My deepest sympathy to the Turner and Pickle family. Diane Turner was a fantastic Professor. She demanded a lot and gave so much to her students. She was my Journalism Professor at TCC South Campus back in 1996 and remained my friend. She always asked what book I was reading and would recommend books to me. In fact, on her last day of work, she came by my office to recommend the novel "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen which I now absolutely must read. I can hear Professor Turner in my mind reminding me that "published works are underlined not placed in quotes!" Of course, this website will not allow me to underline the Title. I am so saddened to learn of Diane's passing. She was looking forward to retirement and knowing Diane, it would have been a busy schedule, yet on her own terms. Diane was such a bright light and inspired so many others to pursue journalism careers. Her light shines on in her former students. What a wonderful personality she was, as Professor and as a former reporter and editor. Her laughter was contagious. May Light Perpetual shine upon her and upon all the souls of the Faithful Departed. Amen.
Laurie Kight
June 8, 2009
It was an honor to know Diane. She is one of our Delta Gamma jewels. We will miss her immensely. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
June 7, 2009
I am blessed to have had you as my sister-in-law for some 35 years. You brought humor, fun and love to all of us in the family. Your love of the kids and then their kids was unprecedented in your devotion and desire to educate them in the arts and entertain them all the time, especially at Christmas with your Santa's Sack. Even as adults, they still remember the joy you brought them with this "happening" each year.
I love you Diane and am so grateful to have been in your life.
Rita
Floreen Henry
June 7, 2009
Some of my fondest campus memories include the privilege of observing your classes while having the honor of being your chair on South Campus. Plus, the marvelous opportunity of having some of your students in my classes because they would have such wonderful observation and critical thinking skills that you taught through Journalism. We will miss the book that you promised to write and will miss you, Lady.
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