Russell Turner

Russell E. Turner

Russell E. Turner, 95, of Olathe, KS passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family May 27, 2020. Russell was born on Friday, March 13, 1925, in the Henderson Community of Rush County, Indiana. He attended school in Rush County and Carthage, Indiana during the years of the Great Depression, and was a high school basketball point guard stand-out, winning championships for his school. Those Indiana farm boys can play some basketball! During his senior year of high school in 1943, on the day he turned 18, he quit school and volunteered for the WW2 draft, after basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois he was inducted in the U. S.  Navy in June of 1943, serving at the Squadron VR-3 at the Olathe Naval Air Station, and Squadron VRJ-1 at Hickam Field, Hawaii. After being discharged following the end of WW2, he reenlisted in the Navy at the Olathe Naval Air Station. After completing 20 years of active duty he transferred to the Fleet Reserve and was retired with 30 years of service as a Builder Chief Petty Officer February 1, 1974. In 1943, while stationed at the Olathe Naval Air Station, he met the love of his life, Juanita Hartley, a pretty, vivacious Olathe girl. In 1945, before being transferred to the Pacific Ocean for duty, they were married on March 7, 1945 in Carthage, Indiana. They just celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in 2020.  After his naval service, he was employed by Century Wood Products in Olathe from 1963 – 1969. After receiving a Civil Service appointment in 1969 he was employed by the Navy, Air Force and General Services Administration in Kansas City as a carpenter lead in building services until his retirement in 1986. During retirement he was a woodworker, completing projects for his church and others, restoring antique trunks, as well as repairing and refinishing furniture. He was a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church (PCA) of Olathe.  He enjoyed traveling with his wife in their motor home for many years as well as taking time to fish, golf, and maintain a home vegetable garden. He was a member of the Olathe American Legion Post #153 and the Fleet Reserve Association #161 Kansas City. He was a good, kind, gentle man and very loved as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother and son. He is survived by his wife, Juanita, three children, Sherry, Jim (Enza) and Lisa (Mary), four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, his younger brother, Paul (Janet) of North Carolina, and numerous nieces and nephews.  A graveside funeral service will be held Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020 at 11:00 am at the Olathe Memorial Cemetery, 738 N Chestnut St, Olathe, KS, entrance on N Woodland. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to either New Hope Food Pantry, 13310 S Black Bob Rd, Olathe, KS 66062 or Inspire Hospice Services, 11827 W 112th ST, Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66210.