Herbert Archibald Turner passed away peacefully with his family by his side in Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, BC on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at the age of 85 years.
A celebration of life service was held from the chapel of Bowers Funeral Home, Salmon Arm, on Tuesday afternoon, December 7, 2010 at 2 p.m. with Jack Bowers the funeral celebrant. Wyn Gittins, neighbour and friend, shared words of remembrance followed with a reception in the Mountainside room at Bowers giving an opportunity for the family and friends to continue their memories of Herb.
Cremation with internment to follow later in Mt. Ida Cemetery.
Herb was born on August 14, 1925 in Salmon Arm of two pioneering families, the MacKays who arrived here in 1904 and the Turners who arrived in 1907. He grew up on an orchard on Lakeshore Road, being the second of four boys. After high school graduation he joined the Navy and served during 1944 and 1945 as a radar 3 operator on a corvette, the HMCS Rosthern out of Halifax on the “triangle” run (Halifax, Saint John’s, Nfld, Bermuda). He was on leave when the war ended and thought the sirens on V-J Day were actually in celebration of his 20th birthday. During 1947 – 1948 he worked at the Eldorado Uranium mine at Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories. He returned to Salmon Arm in 1949 and married Lorna Minion. Following the big freeze and loss of all apple trees in their orchard in 1949 he took a job at the Farmer’s Exchange Mill.
In 1954 they moved to Kitimat to work at Alcan, this lasted 24 years and it was here that he became involved with Amateur Radio, a passion he enjoyed for the rest of his life. His call letters are VE7WI. In 1980 he returned to the Shuswap living at Sorrento, then moving into Salmon Arm in 2004. Retirement was active for Herb, including, traveling, reading, golf, gardening, computer, amateur radio club, Salmon Arm Historical Society, Friends of the Library and volunteer and contributor to Haney Heritage and Village Society. He was blessed with granddaughter, Kayla, who shared a very precious and close relationship, keeping each other youthful.
A kind, compassionate and gentle man, he is well remembered for his sense of humor, he will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and all those who called him “Uncle Herb”. He would want all to “keep smiling”, and said “A stranger is just a friend you have never met”.
Predeceased by his father, Fred; mother, Gertrude, brothers Don and Mac Turner. Herb is survived by his loving family, wife, Lorna; son, Dale (Wendi) Turner of Kelowna; granddaughter, Kayla Turner (Jon Lemon) of Kelowna; Brother Hugh (Audrey) Turner of Kamloops, and a host of nieces, nephews and relatives.
Memorial donations in memory of Herb Turner may be sent to the Salvation Army or to Haney Heritage Village and Museum.
The family extends their appreciation to Doctor Amy Megyesi (Tiessen), Second Floor nurses and staff at Shuswap Lake General Hospital , and Doctor Denis Lavoie of Vernon.
Email condolences may be sent to Herb’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com
Funeral arrangements were in the care of Bowers Funeral Home and Crematorium, Salmon Arm.