Edward H Turner

Having completed the purpose his Lord had for him, Edward Hugh Turner, 72, entered into his eternal reward on Friday, February 13, 2015, in Temple, TX. He was born to Horace and Fannie Turner on October 11, 1942, in Port Arthur, Texas. Edward built his life on the firm foundation of God's Word which he diligently studied and taught. In 1968 he was ordained a deacon in Trinity Baptist Church of Renton, WA and he has served faithfully. He taught adult Sunday School for over 30 years and enjoyed acting in church dramas. Edward was active in the bus ministry of two churches, driving the bus at one church, and later, teaching an adult bus ministry class in the other. In 2002 and 2008 he served on a mission team in Aruba constructing a church building and working with children. After retiring he worked in the preschool department of Vacation Bible School. At the time of his death, he was a member of First Baptist Church Belton. Edward was a retired Mechanical Engineer who held a BS from Lamar University and an MS from Rice University. He worked in the aircraft industry, offshore oil and gas production, and in the aerospace industry. The last twenty years of his career he worked for Boeing on a team designing the environmental controls on the International Space Station. This included working in mission control for some of the shuttle flights to the space station. Edward retired in April 2009. On August 7, 1964, in Port Arthur, Texas, Edward married his high school sweetheart, Rita Marie Smith. They recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. He has two children, and two grandchildren. Edward was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Max R. Turner. He is survived by his wife Rita, daughter Deborah Barkley and her husband Michael of Belton, son David Turner and his wife Barbara of Yuba City, CA, granddaughters Elizabeth Graham and her husband Jonathan of New Braunfels, TX, and Grace Turner of Yuba City, sister Zemly Turner of Belton, and sister-in-law Dianne Smith of Belton. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 17, 2015, at 2:00 PM at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton with the Rev. Andy Davis officiating. Burial will follow at North Belton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 PM on Monday, February 16, 2015, at Dossman Funeral Home. The family would like to thank the staff of Arbor House in Temple for the gentle, loving care they provided for Edward over the last month. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation.