Ray W. Turner Jr.

BRIDGTON, Maine — 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. Professionally, he was a board member and past president of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Contractors Association and the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He was a member of the MCA National Plumbing Board. He was active in his community, serving as a member of the zoning board of Franklin Township for 30 years, as a trustee for the Orange Methodist Church and as a board member of the Westmoreland Club, Wilkes-Barre.

Upon his retirement in 2002, he and his first wife (Judith B. Turner, deceased) moved to Bridgton, Maine, to the Brown's family home on Long Lake. Ray embraced his new community and he continued his civic service by serving on the Town of Bridgton Sewage Committee, Economic Development Committee, Bridgton Community Center Board and as a trustee for the Bridgton United Methodist Church. Mr. Turner enjoyed sailing and kayaking on the lakes and rivers in southern Maine.

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, of Dallas; cousin Carl (Nancy) Hedden, of Hazleton; sons Ray W. Turner III and Eric F. Turner; daughter Kimberly (David) Ashton, of Dallas; grandchildren Cara Turner, of Dallas, Morgan Turner Fielding, of Loyalville, Aaron and Rachel Turner, both of Forty Fort, Adam Ashton, of Sacramento, Calif., and Emily Ashton, of Midway, Ky.; seven great-grandchildren; and stepchildren Lisa L. Bugbee, of Middle River, Md., Mark L. Bugbee, of Red Lion, and Garth G. Davidson, of Basking Ridge, N.J.

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.