Fort Edward
Leon H. Turner, 94, passed away on Sunday, November 4, 2018, at Glens Falls Hospital.
Born on May 25, 1924, in Glens Falls, he was the son of the late Duane and Hazel (Haviland) Turner.
Lee graduated from Fort Edward High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served with distinction until his discharge in 1945. Lee served on the USS Zeilin where he was a landing craft operator ferrying US Marines to invade the various Japanese held islands in the south Pacific. When he dropped the door on the landing craft he once said he could see a “gray cloud of enemy bullets coming at us”. After the US Marines landed on the beach Lee’s job was to wait to bring wounded Marines back to the ship for treatment. Once back on ship Lee worked with the medical staff in the make shift hospital/mess hall. What a gruesome task that must have been. He loved the Navy in spite of being seasick every day the ship was at sea!
Lee was a hardworking man who went to work every day and who loved his carpenter job of 40 years. He built his own home in South Glens Falls all the while raising two beautiful daughters-Karen and Michele. He had a unique zest for life and had fun at whatever he did. He had a long and happy retirement and in retirement he lived as he wanted. He was never a big eater and in retirement he would basically eat candy, cookies, ice cream and coffee all day long and he never gained a pound and always weighed exactly what he weighed when he entered the Navy in 1942. What great retirement he had.
Lee loved singing and dancing and was known as a jokester.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings; Elizabeth Turner, Margery Mondoux, and Duane Turner.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Karen Ward (Brad) of Queensbury, and Michele Brockway (Rycky Stark) of Fort Ann, his grandchildren; James Farley (Stephanie) and Shane Farley (Jennifer), his great-grandchildren, Destanie and Azraelle, as well as his longtime companion Joan Walsh.
At Leon’s request there will be no calling hours.
A Memorial Service will be conducted at 11am on Tuesday, November 13, 2016 at the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 82 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828 with Rev. William Puckey of the South Glens Falls United Methodist Church officiating.
Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations in Lee’s name can be made to the Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
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