Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Letitia Yancey Dator Turner
1934 - 2025
UPCOMING SERVICE
Letitia Turner Obituary
She studied at American University where she met her husband James Dator in 1953. Tish and Jim traveled widely with their three children, Natasha-Lynn, Thomas (Tad), and Constance (Connie), making homes in Philadelphia, PA; Washington, D.C.; Tokyo, Japan; Toronto, Canada; Blacksburg, Virginia; and Honolulu, Hawaii. Everywhere she lived, she built communities around her love of art and continual learning.
In Tokyo, she studied Japanese language and culture at Sophia University. She later received her Masters of Business from Pepperdine University, and a degree in art at the University of Hawaii, specializing in ceramics. A talented seamstress and artist, she sewed elegant dresses for her daughters as well as a beloved handmade elephant, and she was active in Archigram, an avant-garde British futuristic architectural group.
Tish and Jim divorced in 1977, and in 1981, Tish married Melville Turner with whom she ran a successful business, 'Christmas Trees Hawaii' and was active in 'His Highest Praise Church'. Mel died in 2019 and Tish returned to Threlkeld Farm in Brandy Station to live with her sister. She spent her final days in the care of Mountain View nursing home.
Tish was predeceased by her parents, Francis and Evelyn May Yancey; brother Francis "Bro" Yancey Jr.; son Thomas Dator; and second husband Melville Turner. She is survived by her sister Linda "Boo" Ingram; daughters Natash-Lynn Dator and Constance Dator; grandchildren James Dator-Frigon and Ren Dator.
Her service will be held at the family graveyard at Threlkeld Farm, Brandy Station on Friday, October 3rd at 11:30. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Oak Grove Mennonite Church, who own and operate Mountain View Nursing Home (563 Tom Johnston Rd, Aroda, VA 22709).
"We shall not cease from exploration
And at the end of all our exploring
will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-TS Eliot.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memorial Events
for Letitia Turner
Memories and Condolences
for Letitia Turner
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
Make a Donation
in Letitia Turner's name
How to support Letitia's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Letitia Turner's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
