Blanche Turton

Blanche Quarrier Wilson Turton
Blanche Quarrier Wilson Turton, of Richmond, VA, passed away of natural causes Tuesday, May 15, 2018. She was 89.
"Tortor" as she was known to friends and family, was born in Wheeling, WV and graduated from Triadelphia High School, after which she went on to attend Mt. Vernon Junior College and graduated from Harcum Junior College. Following college, she returned to Wheeling where she enjoyed jobs in modeling and journalism. There she also met her future husband, Harry, of Bridgeport, CT on a blind date, and eventually they married and moved to Aruba, where they started their family.
Mrs. Turton and her family moved several times, between Connecticut, Florida, Michigan and Virginia. Richmond was their final stop, marking the return of a Quarrier decendant. Mrs. Turton's great-great-great-grandfather, Alexander Quarrier, was both a successful Richmond businessman in the gunsmithing and carriage-making trades and a loyal soldier, appointed the very first Commandant of the (Richmond) Public Guard by Virginia Governor James Monroe in 1801.
Mrs. Turton's passions included her cats, her houseplants, tennis and entertaining. However for her, nothing compared to being with family. She was always ready for a visit to her beloved hills of West Virginia. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be dearly remembered for her generous spirit and caring heart.
Mrs. Turton was preceded in death by her parents, Mrs. Quarrier H. Wheat and her father Mr. George T. Wilson and her husband of 55 years, Harry A. Turton. She is survived by her children; daughters Leslie Pugh and husband Tom, Mimi Turton and Ellen Turton; her son Harry A. Turton Jr. and wife Heather; grandchildren Meredith Fleurie and husband Kevin, Jonathan Ams, Stephen and Brooke Porter, Thomas and George Pugh, Hampton and Hadley Turton and two great-grandsons, Hayes and Weston Fleurie; sister Mary Fowler and husband Don and her cat Pauline.
A memorial service will be held later this year. Correspondence can be sent to Mimi Turton, 517 Lower Hollow Road, Dorset, VT 05251. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Oglebay Foundation, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, WV 26003.