Robert Melvin Turner's Obituary
Robert Melvin Turner – was born: October 7, 1921 in Fort Morgan, Colorado. In 1924 at the age of three, he moved to Oakland, California, with his parents, older brother, and sister. He attended Oakland High School, was active on the gymnastics team, and made friends easily and often.
After high school, he worked for Western Die Casting, airplane parts manufacturer, where he was qualified as ”indispensable” to the company when war broke out.
On June 16, 1944 he joined the US Marine Corps anyway, assigned to the honorable K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and served in combat in the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa in the Pacific theatre through October 12, 1946. He was honorably discharged with battle fatigue, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and two ruptured eardrums from frequent shelling.
In 1953 he married the beautiful Dorothy Alice Hurley of Berkeley, California, whom he had met at a ballroom dance in Oakland. They moved into a new home in San Leandro, California in 1954, where they raised his three sons and one daughter.
He joined the family business, J.B. Turner & Sons (kitchen/bath remodeling) on Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, California. In 1966 he left there to become an independent remodeler/contractor through 1972. He then joined Hayward Unified School District as a painter and building maintenance supervisor from 1972 through 1986.
In 2006, his bride of 53 years, Dorothy, became ill and he cared for her at their home in San Leandro until she passed in November of that year. He carried on for 8 more years.
He passed away on September 12, 2014 in San Leandro, California with his sons, Melvin, Robert, Glenn, his daughter Donna and son-in-law Stewart at his side.
He was a beloved family man, a hard worker, a good neighbor and a loyal friend.
What made him most special was his sunny personality. He was always charming, upbeat and friendly. It was hard not to love him right away. He had a beaming smile, shining blue eyes and a delightful laugh. He was dashing, handsome, athletic and strong. He was funny, fun-loving and energetic. He stayed active all his life with sports and hobbies that included fishing, camping, golfing (San Leandro Golf Club member for 19 years), piloting small aircraft, traveling, as a booster for the Oakland Raiders, and bowling on a team until age 90. He was extremely generous, humble, gentle and kind. He never hesitated to help out a friend.
Dad would also want to be remembered for his creative side. He invented golf games and useful gadgets, and made sturdy repairs on just about everything. He was also an artist—painting, drawing, making jewelry, and woodworking, and was a wonderful singer, performing as a Don Jose in “Carmen” at Woodminster Amphitheatre in the early 1940’s.
There were struggles in his life, including his debilitating service in battle, but he chose not dwell on these. He handled his life with kindness, humility and humor. He focused on the positive and found silver linings in the darkest clouds. We are fortunate to have had such a beautifully positive soul touch our lives. He will always be lovingly remembered and greatly missed.
Here are some of the wonderful things that others have said about this precious man:
“He was a beautiful person and I loved him a lot.”
“Uncle Bob” was always special to me. This is really a big loss.”
“He is such a sweet soul and I know he will be greatly missed.”
“Heaven is a better place for having him there.”
“He was the sweetest man I ever knew.”
“He was one of the most truly selfless people I have ever known.”
“He was one of the really good guys.”
“So many wonderful memories of his kindness and love, and generosity towards us, and to my children as well.”
“Uncle Bob blessed us in so many ways throughout the years, and I know how much our Dad loved him.”
“I will never forget his sweet smile and caring spirit, and his great love for his own family, and Grandma Sarah.”
“One of the Greatest Generation, always quick to smile, a lovely humble man, I remember the time I was able to spend with him fondly–There is a new star in the sky tonight.”
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