Thomas Dudley Turner

Thomas Dudley Turner 1927-2015 It is with deep sadness that the family announces that Tom Turner, age 87, passed away on January 7, 2015. Tom will be lovingly remembered by his sons Timothy James Turner (Pat) of Onalaska, WI and Christopher Lynn Turner (Cheryl) of Prince Albert, Saskachawan, his grandchildren Katie, Sam and Andy and his brother Bill Turner (Rosa) of Santa Rosa, CA. He was predeceased by his parents Lyndon and Mable Turner of Eureka, his wife Mary Ellen Rogers of Fortuna, CA and brothers Darrell, Robert and Donald Turner. He will be dearly missed by his former students at Minot State University, his "comrades" in China, and his friends at the Veteran's Home in Yountville, CA. Tom was born and raised in Eureka, CA and had many fond memories of those times especially during the depression years. He was a third generation Humboldter and was proud of it. He attended Washington School and Eureka Junior and Senior High. He had great memories of his fun times with his brother Darrell (Doe), Harry Bistrin, Fuzzy Lampella, and many others. He was restless in high school and was anxious to get into WWII so, just shy of graduation, he enlisted in the Navy at age 17. He was a signalman and served on the USS Breckenridge, USS Cadmus and the USS Kaskaskia. He loved his time in the Navy and at one time considered it as a career. He was discharged in 1947, returned home to Eureka, and had to wait awhile to reenlist. To take up his time, he enrolled in Humboldt State College and later graduated with a bachelor's and master's degree in Speech/ Drama. He taught at Hoopa High School and Arcata High School before enrolling in a Ph.D. program at Iowa State University. He accepted a teaching position at Chadron State College, Nebraska where he taught for several years before accepting a teaching position in the Speech and Theater arts department at Minot State College, North Dakota (now Minot State University - MSU). He spent many summers directing plays in a YMCA circus tent until it was destroyed in a freak wind storm. Following that incident, Tom worked with a fellow university professor to secure funding to build the Minot State Amphitheater, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer. Tom was a man of many interests. Not only was he a director he was also a playwright. Tom studied karate, he became a ham radio operator and a certified parliamentarian as well as a lock smith. He enjoyed hang gliding, even making his own hang gliders (which never flew). He had a keen interest in theater, and movies particularly the old Westerns and film noir classics. During his last few years at MSU he studied both French and Mandarin Chinese, and after retiring in 1990, he moved to Ghuangxou, China where he taught at Ghuangxou University. Tom finally retired and returned to Eureka where he continued his interest in studying Mandarin Chinese at home and at Humboldt State, learning to play the erhu, and enjoying his faithful dog Pongyou. Six years ago he moved to the Veterans Home of California in Yountville, CA. During his time there, he continued learning Chinese, he was learning to play the banjo, guitar and even the bag pipes much to the chagrin of his roommates. But his favorite instrument was the harmonica which always reminded him of his days growing up in Eureka. Even as Tom's health began to fail in the last couple of years, he continued working at the banjo and harmonica. He passed away January 7, 2015 at Yountville Veteran's Home from complications of pneumonia. At Tom's request there will be no services. He will be interred at Sunset Cemetery in Eureka, CA next to his parents and his brothers Darrell and Donald. He is terribly missed by his lone surviving brother. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com and click on obits.