Ralph E. Turner

1940 - 2022

Ralph E Turner
Ramona The final dinner bell rang for Ralph E. Turner on February 4, 2022. He passed peacefully at home in his sleep at the age of 82. He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Mary; their son, Joseph; two Grandsons, Evan and Jakob Turner; and two sisters, Janet Van Asperen and Jackie Ambrose. He is predeceased by his son, Jeffery; his parents and two sisters, Dixie and Alice Faye.
Ralph was born on January 26, 1940 to Ralph Joseph Turner and Alice Irene Turner in Neligh, Nebraska. He loved his country he was a true patriot and one of the last cowboys. He served in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Miramar Naval Air Station, and served on the USS Midway from 1961-1965. In his free time, he raised cattle in Ramona, CA and the cattle were all tamed and named. He often fed them treats such that they came to see him as one of their own. Ralph was a good dad and an even better Granddad, spending as much time with the grandkids that time could spare.
Ralph was a stickler on dinner table manners. He had a muscle test he would use to see if you had eaten enough good food to be excused from the table. He would often stop eating to test the muscles of a child standing next to him his kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, and all of their friends all were fair game for the muscle test! Once you thought you had eaten enough from your plate, you had to flex your arm muscle. If he could pull it straight out in front of you, he would say, "You still have sun-warmed garden hose muscles or liquor store Junk food muscles." Then you would have to sit back down and keep eating until you thought you could pass the test. Once your plate was mostly cleared or you managed to eat everything on your plate, you'd go for the final test. If you passed and he couldn't pull your flexed arm straight even using all his might' and best grunting strength sounds,' you had "steal Pipe Muscles" and could leave the dinner table knowing he was satisfied. During family gatherings he sometimes had a line of kids he would have to test to see if they could leave the dinner table. I don't know who loved this more: him or the kids!
A few things that his kids and grandkids learned adeptly from him was driving, how to safely handle firearms and to respect cattle. He always taught that vehicles and firearms must be handled with care. From a BB gun to a shotgun, once fired, its going to do, "what it was sent to do," and there is no way to stop it. He always treated these things with the upmost respect and passed these lessons onto those who were willing to learn.
The Family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to:
Ramona Ag Boosters Attn: Mary Martineau PO Box 2057, Ramona, CA 92065
or Julian Union High School FFA
Attn: Curtis Martineau PO Box 417 Julian, CA 92036

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Ralph on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, Aqua Lane, Ramona, CA.

Please sign the guest book online at legacy.com/obituaries/ ramonasentinel January 26, 1940 - February 4, 2022