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BORN
1936
DIED
2011
Donald Turner Obituary
Don Turner will be sorely missed by many. Don succumbed to pneumonia and a severe infection at Saint John's Hospital on April 12, 2011 in Oxnard. With his family by his side, Don rested comfortably as he transitioned out of this world.
Master Chief Turner enjoyed a long and celebrated career in the Navy Seabees. Don is survived by his wife, Linda, their eight children, 16 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made to the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum in Port Hueneme or the Veteran's Home of California, 10900 Telephone Road, Ventura, CA 93004.
Memorial Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, at Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 1851 Holser Walk, Oxnard.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Donald Turner
FRANCIS PICCININI
April 28, 2011
DON,
SAVE ME A PLACE IN THE LINE AT THE REAGAN LIBRARY, O K?
WE WILL MISS YOU!!!!!
FRANCIS PICCININI
April 28, 2011
DON,
WE WILL ALL MISS YOU DEARLY!
April 26, 2011
Rest in Peace Seabee. You did a lot for us seabees and made us all proud. Ooooo Rah
UT1 Darrin R Strobbe
Bryce Lindvall
April 23, 2011
It was my honor to have served in the Navy with MasterChief, He was a man's man and the way he carried himself, you only wanted to be the way he was. My condolences to the family.
Jerry and Kathy Decius
April 22, 2011
To the Turner family, We only had the honor to spend one weekend with Don at the 2010 Seabee Reunion in Port Hueneme. He made a lasting impression on myself and my husband. His laughter and his wit and his great personality came through as the gentleman that he was. We shared the pleasure of his company and his children and grandchildren at the same table at the Chief's Club. He will be greatly missed this year and every year to come. Thank you for letting us share in your life. God Bless you Don
April 22, 2011
I first met Don on Okinawa when I had MCB3 on the first Blue/Gold deployment. He was with 31 NCR. We both shared a love for equipment. He was a great advisor and we worked up a plan to care for our spread with half the folks. He was a real Seabee!
Bill, my heart goes out for you and the family.
Sincerely, Tex Lewis
Michael White
April 22, 2011
My condolences to the Turner family. Don was a great guy, I worked for Don on 2 deployemnts and valued his advice and wisdom. He always was always very willing to help by giving sound advice and his leadership methods always worked. I learned early on not to bet with him as he always won. He was a great guy who took the time out to take my engagement pictures and my wife and I have now been married 29 years. My wife would bake cookies for me while I was oversea's and always stick in a couple of bags marked just for Don. I do not think that today's Navy has anyone like Don, they broke the mold with him.
Mike & Penny White
Michael Rickley Sr.
April 22, 2011
His humor will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
carol stamey
April 21, 2011
An unforgettable character. They do not make them like that anymore. I had the great pleasure of working with Chief at the Ventura County Probation Agency Work Furlough program. He garnered the respect of everyone he came in contact with, honest, forthright, and a gentleman. It was a priviledge to have known him. My sympathies to his loved ones and friends. God bless you Chief, you will be remembered fondly.
Neil Friedrichsen
April 20, 2011
To the Family of "Master Chief Turner", this man touched many of us at Port Hueneme, the Oxnard Plains and world wide and he will be dearly missed! Our deepest sympathy. His retirement ceremony was second to none. Don, you will be missed and especially the chats we had in the pharmacy lobby. Your Friend the "Mustang Officer at the Medical Clinc". Neil and family.
Gary Plumlee
April 19, 2011
I had the priveledge to serve with Master Chief Turner 3 times at three different commands in my 5 years in the SeaBee's. He will be missed by many. He was a true SeaBee and i was proud to serve under him. He had a sign on the enterance to his door at A school.. It had a huge muscled SeaBee and it said "Welcome to my world" My thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of need. May god Bless you and yours...
Gary A Plumlee, Kennewick Washington
Birthday Celebration- Woody & Don
Cynthia Gravette
April 18, 2011
Loosing Mom was a shock to us. Celia and I were overwhelmed and Dad felt abandoned and lonely. We prayed specifically for a christian friend for Dad and God abundantly answered our prayers.
Don, so willingly came into our lives and helped Dad sooth his broken heart. He was faithful and considerate to Dad’s fragile condition and we are all grateful for the friendship that developed. From the “Patty’s Memorial Bench” in orchard to the coconut cream pies on his birthdays - Don instinctually knew how to bring companionship and laughter back into Dads life.
We want you to know how very sorry we are for your great loss. There is nothing that I can say to ease your pain but I must tell you how very much we cared for Don. Celia and I are grateful that Don answered the call to minister to Dad and to be the hands and feet of Christ. Our love and prayers go to you and your family.
Cyndee Shumate Gravette
Randy Gens
April 18, 2011
Our prayers go out to the Turner family. I served under Master Chief Turner in 1976 and remember him just like it was yesterday. He will be missed by many.
Susan Roberts
April 18, 2011
To the Turner family - May nature touch you with compassion, bless you with sunlight and send gentle rain to quietly weep with you. May the breeze whisper life that never ends,only that it is changed - that it continues forever in a world more beautiful than our words can describe. I knew Master Chief from my days working for the Command Office at CBC when he was the Command MC. I can say Don always had compassion for his fellow man. He is truly missed.
Krista Furman
April 18, 2011
Chief, I will miss you more than I can explain! I learned so many valuable life lessons from your wisdom. You were a friend, a mentor, and even a "grandfather" to me while we were at CTC. I will forever treasure the memories I have of you and your laughter. I know you will be missed by all that knew you. I can say that many of your CTC crew cried for you today Chief! I look forward to laughing with you again someday. For Linda, I keep you and your family in my prayers. Chief always talked about you and how much he loved you. Thank you for sharing him with us. I love you bunches, Chief! Keep everyone in line up there and keep smiling!
Phu Pham
April 17, 2011
I used to see Master Chief Turner at the gym all the time. He used to go real early in the morning to LA Fitness in Ventura. I was also in the Navy and so we had alot to talk about. You'll be missed Master Chief.
Phu Pham
Tracy Sisson-Phillips
April 17, 2011
My sincere condolences to the entire Turner family. Don's light will forever shine in the hearts of those who he touch with his infections smile,positive attitude, and love for life. Prayers and blessings to you all.
Clifford Taylor
April 16, 2011
This Sunday at church our Pastor is going to give a dedication to Don and his service. Thanks for sending this to me, it will provide a very good understanding of our friend we all loved and will miss. He is an example for each of us, he gave me great counseling over the years..."Welcome to my world!" It was Don's world, he was bigger than life itself. My sorrow goes out to the family, how do you step into those combat boots? Although he left us for a mansion in glory, he is, and in memory, always will be, an inspiration to me.
God Bless his family
Cliff Taylor
CUCM(SCW/DV), Retired
Chris Weidenheimer
April 16, 2011
Linda - Chief was the BEST! Sense of humor, work ethic, attitude, philosophy of life, willingness to do just about anything for anyone who needed him. I know you'll miss him terribly, but you have many wonderful memories and family members to keep him alive in your heart forever. As Chief would say, "It doesn't get any better than this!"
April 15, 2011
My sincere condolences to Don's family on his passing. Don was a great person, larger than life and a pleasure to know and serve with!
Ron Kimmons
EQCM Retired
April 15, 2011
Don was my neighbor at the Port Hueneme Naval Base for many years, May his soul rest in peace.
Bob Stanwood
EOC Retired
Kris Montano
April 15, 2011
I love u Dad
Celia Sugden
April 15, 2011
After the passing of our Mother in 2007 Don entered our family's life as a Hospice Volunteer. While our father was somewhat resistant to any new friends at first , he & Don were able to find common ground in their Military service.
Don had such a down to earth manner he was able to fit into just about any situation & find a place in Dad's life. He could be counted on to visit every Monday & to show up at every celebration with a coconut cream pie.
We will miss his giving spirit and his kind heart.
Don at Woody's 92 Birthday Celebration
April 15, 2011
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