Ray W. Turner Jr.

On Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, Ray W. Turner Jr., 82, passed away at The Hospice House in Auburn, Maine.

He was born in Nanticoke, the son of Ray and Ruth Evans Turner. He graduated from Wyoming Seminary Preparatory School in 1954 and Lehigh University in 1959 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.

Upon graduation, he worked for Honeywell Inc., and attended Drexel University in Philadelphia before returning to Wilkes-Barre to work for, and eventually own and operate, J. L. Turner Company, the family mechanical contracting business.

During his tenure, J. L. Turner Company expanded, completing projects out of state and as far away as the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was board and past president of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Contractors Association and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Mechanical Contractors Association National Plumbing Board.

He was a strong supporter of planned community growth and served on the zoning board of Franklin Twp. for 30 years. He was on the board of trustees for Orange Methodist Church and also served on the Flood Committee after the Agnes Flood of 1972. He served on the board of the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre.

He married Judith Brown in 1957, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family in Wilkes-Barre on June 21, 2007.

Mr. Turner accumulated over 1,000 hours as pilot in command of single engine aircraft and was instrument-rated. His aircraft was based at the Forty Fort airport.

Mr. Turner learned to sail at the ripe age of five when his father purchased a Comet sailboat #31 on Nuangola Lake. He sailed on the Chesapeake for many years out of Kent Narrows, Md., on a 34-foot ketch. He served as crew on many open ocean crossings to and from many east coast ports to the Virgin Islands and returned the boats to the east coast during the summer months.

Mr. Turner retired from J. L. Turner Company in 2001 after 42 years and remained active in the business to complete the projects under his control until 2002.

Mr. Turner and his wife, Judith, sold their farm in Orange and moved to Bridgton, Maine, in 2003. Judy's family owned a camp on Long Lake in Bridgton, Maine. The Turners replaced the old camp structure with a year-round home. Judith Turner passed in 2011 in Bridgton, Maine.

He continued his civic service by serving on the Town of Bridgton Sewage Committee, Economic Development Committee and Bridgton Community Center Board. He also served as a trustee for Bridgton United Methodist Church.

Mr. Turner enjoyed sailing and kayaking on the lakes and rivers in southern Maine, and introduced his grandchildren to the joys of Long Lake. In June 2013, he married JoAnna M. Sestak.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnna M. Sestak; brothers, Neil (Beverly) Turner and J. Lee (Kerry) Turner, Dallas; cousin, Carl (Nancy) Hedden, Hazleton; sons, Ray W. Turner III and Eric F. Turner; daughter, Kimberly Turner Ashton, Dallas; grandchildren, Cara Turner, Dallas; Morgan Turner Fielding, Loyalville; Aaron and Rachel Turner, both of Forty Fort; and Emily Ashton, Midway, Ky.; seven great-grandchildren; and stepchildren, Lisa L. Bugbee, Middle River, Md.; Mark L. Bugbee, Red Lion; and Garth G. Davidson, Basking Ridge, N.J.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 19 in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Sweden Road, Bridgton, Maine.

A celebration of life service and interment will be held in Wilkes-Barre at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bridgton Community Center, 15 Depot St., Bridgton, ME 04009.