Willis "Bill" Albert Turner

Willis Albert (Bill) Turner, Jr passed away in Morgantown, West Virginia and was promoted to new Kingdom assignments in Heaven on October 18, 2020.  He was born in Lubbock, Texas on May 29, 1943 to Willis Albert (Bill) Turner, Sr and Emma J Holmes Turner.

Bill was raised in Sudan, Texas and graduated from Sudan High School and Texas Tech University.  His life was marked by his faith, courage and service.  Bill accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord at an early age, and his relationship with the Triune God was the cornerstone and anchor in his life.  Bill’s life was marked by a dedication to service – he was an Eagle Scout; served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era; taught school in Levelland, Texas; was a Child Protective/Child Welfare Services caseworker in Greenville, Texas; and served in various professional, management and administrative positions for more than 30 years with the State of Texas in Family Self-Support and Workforce Development Services, including Child Care, Family Violence, Family Planning, Refugee Resettlement, Workforce, and Healthy Marriage.  During his life-long faith walk, he taught Sunday School, served as an elder, was ordained into the ministry, and taught discipleship and other Bible Studies.  He was always humble and maintained an unbroken covenant relationship with the spiritual authorities he was privileged to serve alongside.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Gary Don Turner, his sister Madeline Carol Turner Rosson, and his first wife Karolin Walker Turner.  He is survived by his wife Kathy Lynn Conn Turner of McGregor, Texas; sister Betty Turner Wiseman (Buddy Jo) of Friona, Texas;  brother-in-law Tommy Rosson of Hereford, Texas; sister-in-law Camille Walker Heineman (Bill) of Spicewood, Texas; sister-in-law Karin Walker of Austin, Texas; brother-in-law John R. Conn (Bonnie) of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; nieces Cynthia Wiseman Proctor (Mike) of New Braunfels, Texas, Christie Wiseman Spring (John) of Canyon, Texas, Daphne Rosson Narrell (Brett) of Andrews, Texas, Cary Spivey of Spicewood, Texas, Caryn Rodriguez of Littleton, Colorado, Debra Conn of Westminster, Colorado, and Anna Conn Pataluna (Nick) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and nephews Kevin Wiseman (Carolyn) of Friona, Texas, Mitchell Wiseman (Johnnie) of Friona, Texas, David Fairall of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and John R. Fairall (Pat) of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  He is also survived by numerous great nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.

Even in the final illness from which he succumbed, Bill was not afraid because the perfect love of God casts out fear.  His exhortation to us is one of courage and boldness - enter into a deeper relationship with the Triune God, realize we are each God’s “treasured treasure,” honor life and God’s creation, and co-labor with God in building the Kingdom here on earth.  Although he will be missed here, we can rest assured that he is in the full joy, peace, and presence of God in Heaven.

There was an informal gathering to celebrate Bill’s life in Moundsville, West Virginia on October 25, 2020 for friends there.  Bill will be buried privately on November 2, 2020 in the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.

It is the family’s request and Bill’s wish that there be no floral tributes.  Memorial contributions may be made to The Bridge Christian Church, P.O. Box 7254, Waco, TX 76714, the Gideon’s Society, the National Imperial Glass Museum, or the National Duncan Glass Museum.

Our family thanks each of you for your prayers, love and concern during Bill’s illness and demise.

Visitation (10am) and the Celebration of Life Service (11am) will be held at The Bridge Christian Church, 380 Compton Road, Crawford, TX.  on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Officiating will be Bill Hart of Austin, Texas and Don Cooper of Crawford, Texas.  The Celebration of Life Service will also be broadcast live on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/thebridgechristianchurchtx. Lunch and Sharing to Follow:  email, text, message or phone Kathy Turner if you plan to attend the luncheon so that food may be ordered accordingly.